COnversation, if corrupt, will soon in­fect the Iudgment, Vicious lives, and unsound opinions being for the most part like Ice and Water, which mutually produce each other: When People by horrid Impieties have so far forfeited all hopes [Page 2] of happiness, as it is become their interest, there were neither God nor Devil, no future reward nor punishment: it is no wonder if they first wish, and at last come to believe that there may be none: from this accursed fountain pro­ceeds that inundation of Atheism, which too far has overwhelmed our ungodly Age, and to that bitter root must we refer those spreading branches of Infidelity, which vainly endeavour to clould all instances of Divine Iudgments upon notorious sinners, with a shadow of Ficti­on or improbability.

The deplorable condition of the unhappy Maid at Dublin, who lies severely languish­ing under the severe rod of incensed Heaven, is sufficiently notorious in it self to challenge be­lief from any person not obstinately incredu­lous, and at once affect our Hearts with trem­bling and our eyes with tears, at the relation of so eminent and dreadful a punishment: It is not a thing that hapned many Ages since, in some strange remote Regions, or done in a cor­ner, but in this very Month of January, a­mongst our own people, in our Sister Nation, and chief City of that Kingdom, confirmed and attested (without injuring truth, I may af­firm it) by some hundreds of Letters, to persons of repute in this City of London, from their Friends and Correspondencies.

[Page 3]Some brief account of it has already been made publick, what further tydings we have received by Letters of a fresher date, we shall here acquaint you: but first be pleased to take the matter of fact fully and truly as it hapned, which is thus.

This party, or wretched subject, whose Name we have no Commission to discover, and for several reasons think fit to conceal,) was Servant-Maid to one Mr. Mount, living in Christ-Church Yard in Dublin, a person of good account and worth, and indeed she seemed to be a better Servant than a Christian, for though she would very orderly dispatch her houshold-work, yet she had got a most wicked habit or custom, when she was asked any quest­ion, to answer with an Imprecation or Confir­mative Curse on her self, Let me be burned, or, The Devil burn me, if it be not so: particularly one day, on occasion of something being lost, or mislaid (what it was is variously reported, but most agree it was a Silver Tankard) she was very seriously examined about it, and after seve­ral stout denials, several times repeated her wonted Curse, saying often very solemnly: The Devil burn me alive if I know any thing of it, or what's become of it, or to that wicked effect: insomuch that her Mistriss reproved her [Page 4] for it, and advised her to forbear such extrava­gant and prophain expressions, though she seem­ed not at all to regard her pious Admonitions: But that evening her Master and Mistriss be­ing gone to bed, and she left up alone, about her usual occasions, her Master was on a sudden, towards midnight, surprised with the noise of a strange and unusual Groaning, which after some time oblieged him to get up to satisfie his curiosity, what might be the cause of such heart-piercing moans, which seemed as the last Accents of some miserable departing soul: no sooner came he downstairs into the Kitchen, but he finds his Maid lying in a most misera­ble condition, for though she were alive, she was senceless, and all her fingers, hands, arms, and face wonderfully burnt, and yet neither fire nor candle near her, and (as it appeared af­terwards) she burnt in the same manner in o­ther parts of the body, and yet her Cloaths not prejudiced in the least, when they went to touch her, her Flesh felt hot, as not to be endured, and it appeared to be a kind of burning far dif­ferent from our common f [...]e it was only in the skin and superfines of the flesh and that it does somewhat waste, but not violently consume, nor sink far deep to destroy the vital parts, so that she appears a perfect emblem of infernal [Page 5] misery, still burning without consuming, and dying without being able to dye.

Several Physitians were sent for, but in vain, this was no Erisephelas or S. Anthonies fire, nor lies it in the verge of Art. but only in the merciful power of the Omnipotent Physi­tian, to restore them whom he has visited to make them Monuments of his Iustice. She was removed into Exchequer-Lane, where she was visited by the greatest part of the City with admiration, remaining for 2 whole days, with­out being able to speak; or appearing to have the use of any of her sences: but on the third day, it pleased the Lord to restore her under­standing and speech, which she no sooner receiv­ed, but being askt how she came into that deplo­rable condition, she with many sighs answered, That she was taken on a sudden as if she had been flung into a mighty fierce fire, and that the torment thereof was still beyond expres­sion, but she acknowledged it to be a Visitation from heaven and a just Iudgment of God up­on her, for her wicked Cursing, and Prophain wishes: being futher discoursed with, she seem­ed too inclinable to dispair, alledging that she had been so notorious a sinner, that God-would never pardon her, but had cut her off for ever, and visibly damned her to eternity, whereupon [Page 6] several able Divines were sent for, whom she entertained very patiently: they applyed the Balm of Gilead to her wounded Spirit, and supported her Heart with those Rich Cordials of promises of pardon and forgiveness, where­with the Book of God is plentifully stored: These they so excellently opened, and so closely brought them home to her condition, that she seemed to receive some satisfaction from their discoursed and at last burst out into this pa­thetical Ejaculation. And is there still mercy and pardon for so vile a wretch as I! Oh my God, though my present pain be very grie­vous, yet let me suffer it for many years, so I may but enjoy thee at last.

They concluded that day with prayer, where­in she seemed very devout and much affected: Every day since she has been visited by able Men, and gives very satisfactory answers, ac­knowledging her Sins and Gods Iustice, in laying this affliction upon her, so that 'tis ge­nerally hoped that this temporal Iudgment is inflicted on her, that she may escape Death E­ternal.

Se continues still in the same condition, and can receive food, but takes so very little of it at a time, that it is believed that unless God re­store her, she will in short time waste away.

[Page 7]Our last Letters that gave any account of her, were dated the Fourteenth of this instant Ianuary; and we can say no more of her, but leave her to the infinite mercies of her Almighty Creator, hopeing (which she also often expresses to be the great desire of her heart) that her example may Warn and deter all others that see her, or shall hear this faithful Relation of her condition, to avoid and abandon all such horrid Execra­tions, Cursings, wicked wishes, and pro­phane expressions, lest a worse thing come upon them.

Shall the Lyon Roar, and we not trem­ble, or the tempest of Gods wrath be so ef­fectually and miraculously powered down, and we presume to practice the very same sins for which this poor Creature is made a Monument of Divine justice and dread­ful spectacle of misery; as the holy Scrip­tures (wherin such judgments come to pass) for our instruction, and no doubt every one ought to reap profit to himself by such Ex­amples, as well those which are presented dayly to them by experience, as those that [Page 8] have been done in Ages past, and are by the be­nifit of History preserved from oblivion: of which latter kind give us leave to add one or two from Authentick Authors, somewhat Re­sembling this modern one we have here Rela­ted.

An eminent Author in his Comment upon the 15 Chap. of the first Epistle to the Corin­thians, tells us of a Rude Debauch in Germa­ny, who amongst other Extravagancies, had got a habit that the Devil must come in almost every sentence that past his Lips, if walking he treads awry, if any thing hurt or anger him; or the like, straight the Devil must be in his Mouth; for which, though he were often Re­proved by some godly Neighbors, yet it was in vain, he continued his detestable Phrase, till one time passing over a Bridge, he fell down, or stumbled, and in his fall (instead of calling upon God) uttered these words, Hoist up with a hundred Devils: which he had no sooner spo­ken, but the Devil whom he had so often invo­ked, did appear and strangled him, and carried away his Carcass.

A Carter in Stafford-shire Riding be­fore on the Shafts as he drove his Teem, fell into a horrid fit of Swearing and cursing the poor Cattle, wishing a plague of God for 'um, [Page 9] &c. but going in his fury to leap down to beat them, he accidentally fell down, and the Wag­gon being heavy loaded, the Wheels run over his head and neck, and miserably bruised him to pieces.

A Shooe-maker living some years since in London, had a wicked custome of swearing that horrid Oath, By Gods Blood; one Evening as he was often repeating it, being in a great Rage with a Prentice, his Nose immediately fell a bleeding, which by no means could be stanched, so that he bled to Death in that sad manner.

At St. Gallus, a Town in Helvetia, a poor Man that got his living by whit'ning Linnen, having brutified himself with drink, vomited out many tirrible Curses, as well against him­self, as others; amongst the rest, he wisht if ever he went into the Fields to his old trade, that the Devil might come and break his neck: but when sleep had allay'd the fumes of his Liquor, and sobriety restored his sences, he went again to his old Trade, remembring indeed his late words, but not regarding them; however, the Devil to shew his diligence, attended him at the place and asked him if he remembred his offer and engagement, and whether he might not justly break his neck, and withal struck the [Page 10] poor man, trembling with fear, over the shoul­ders, that his feet and hands presently dryed up, so that he was not able to stir, till by the help of men he was carried home, the Lord not giv­ing Satan so much power as he wisht himself, yet permitting him so far to plague him, for his amendment, and our example.

The Saxon Chronicles relate of Henry Earl of Schwartburg, who used commonly to wish he might be drowned or stifled in a House of Office, if he did not so, or so, and as he wisht, he was served, being Murthered in the Privy be­longing to St. Peters Monastry in Erford.

In the year of our Lord .1649. a certain rump-Souldier quartering at Ware, went down with some persons of the Town into the Meadows, where he would needs go into the River to wash himself, but seeing the water very shallow, he askt whether the River were no where deeper that he might swim? whereupon they shewed him another place, but withal told him, it was not only exceeding deep but dangerous, because there was there a kind of Whirlpool: To whom he desperately replyed, I care not, let it be as deep as Hell I'le in, let it whirle me to the Divel: And immediately saying this, he jumpt into the River, but sunk to rights, and was never seen more.

[Page 11] Conradus in his Theatrum Memorabilium, tells upon his own knowledge of a Lady in Bavaria, that being suspected by her Husband of too much familiarity with a young Baron dwelling near, and once in particular upon some very violent suspitions taxed for keeping him company, denyed all Correspondence with him, with a thousand protestations; and being then great with-child, solemnly wisht that she might never be delivered of that Child she then went withal, or that it might prove a Monster, if she were ever guilty of any undecent or unchaste Conversation with that Gentleman; With which Asseverations, her Husband being satis­fied, quitted his jealousies, and received her into favor as much as ever. But about two months after when her time was out, she fell into La­bor, and continued so in extremity of pangs for five whole days, and could by no help nor Art be delivered, so that at last being just ready to give up the Ghost, she openly acknowledged it to be a Righteous Iudgement both for such her cursed wish and filthy Adultery. For this the Birth she was then in Travel with, was not of her Husbands begetting, but the before-mentioned Barons, saying which, she miserably dyed, and being afterwards open'd, behold a Monster indeed in her Womb, for it had the [Page 12] perfect body of a Male-child, but the head craft­ly like an Owls, and the feet with [...]laven [...] like those of an Ox: A dreadful Examples of Divine vengeance. 1. Against Adultery, and 2ly. Against all such prophane I [...]i [...]tions; and which may warn all, especially Women, in such a condition, to set a Watch before their Lips, least God should visit for such R [...]sh and wicked speeches, in that terrible hour of pangs and tortures, which Eves Transgression has entailed on that Sex in Child-bearing.

A Fisher-man belonging to bright Hempston in Sussex, coming home with his Boat loaden with Mackarells, and they being the first that had been taken that year, abundant of People flockt about him to buy them, and some of them would needs go into his Boat; whereat he be­ing mightily enraged, cryed out, God confound me if I do not break your necks, and catching up a pole, went furiously to strike at them; but fell backward and broke his own Neck, so that he never spake a word after words.

A Person in the Lower Helvetia, in the year 1652. having privately borrowed a sum of money of a friend without any witness, or any thing to show for it, after he had made use of it a long time, and the Person that furnisht him had occasion for it again, grew so ungratefully [Page 13] [...] deny the Receipt of it, or that he [...] him any thing, facing down the good [...] Man impudently with Oaths and pro­testations, who seeing no Remedy, left him, de­siring him to lay the thing to his Conscience, &c. After he was gone, this Villain being at dinner with his Wife, began to glory of his ex­ploit, in cheating the man of his money. To whom the Woman, being of better Principles, answered, I wonder Husband how you dare do these things! Pish, says he, in scorn, you are a fool, who dares not forswear himself for such a sum, deserves to dye a Beggar? I'le warrant thee Wench, a Lye never choaks me. But behold the just hand of God in this presumptuous wretch, for immediately as he spake these Words, a piece of Rind of Bacon, which he was eating, stuck in his Throat, and so continued 24 hours, not to be moved by any Art, till he dyed, being choaked, notwithstand­ing his impudent bragging with that Lye in his mouth, those being the last Words he was ever able audibly to utter.

But most opposite is that of a young Courti­er of Mansfield, mentioned by Cyracus in his Treatise, De Elegantijs veteris Adami. This Gallant had a wicked custome in any earnest Asseveration, to say, The Devil take me if [Page 14] it be not so: The Devil to gratifie [...] took him one day while he slept, and [...] out of a high window: where, though by [...] providence he received no great harm▪ [...] learne thence to bridle his tongue from all such cursed Speeches for the future.

Which use I hope all considerate persons will think of our well-intending pains in publishing the present Relation.