TO warn all from the devouring Gulf of vice, wherein so many are ship-wrackt, is the design of this sheet, by shewing various Examples, how God by the Sythe of Divine Vengeance, hath cut down and destroyed many immediately in their sinful Cour­ses: and to warn thee (Christian Reader) to be­ware thou fallest not as these have done before thee; for how dost thou know, O besotted Drun­kard, but the next time thou art swilling in the midst of thy Cups of Jollity, Swearing and Blas­pheming God's name, thou mayst be cut off, and sent to Eternal flames in the very Act; and added as another terrible Example to these we have here set down, (most of which I had from the certain in­formation of godly Ministers, and the rest observed with grief and terror my self) yet so far, alass hath the Devil bewitched Men to this Sin, masking it under the Title of Good fellowship, Merry-making, and the like; that though the holy Scripture says expresly, no Whoremongers, Drunkards, &c. (without Repentance) shall enter into Heaven: yet instead of repenting for, or leaving of this [Page 2] swinish sin, they glory in it, and revile not only those that out of Conscience reprove them for it, but also those that out of charity to their Souls warn them against it. I shall represent this Sin in its Nature, by proving it to be most detestable.

1. By Scripture; As you may read in Joel 1. vers. 5. Away ye Drunkards, and weep and howl all ye drinkers of Wine. Nahum 1. 10. And while they are Drunken as Drunkards, they shall be de­voured as stuble fully dry. Deut. 29. 20, 21. and. 2. 16. and 20. 11. This our Son is Stobborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice, he is a Glutton & a Drun­kard; and all the men of his City shall stone him with stones that he dye. Isa. 5. 11. Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink, that continue until night, till wine inflame them. And so read Prov. 23. 31, 32. of Bel­shazzer, Dan. 5. 4, 5. Heb. 2. 15. Luk. 21. 34. Rom. 13. 13. Gal. 5. 21. With many more Scrip­tures against this grievous and beastly Sin of Drunkenness. Secondly, by example.

2. In Northampton-shire I lived not many years since at Desborough in that County, which I saw with my eyes; as I was walking along, there rides by me on the Road a Man very much in drink, but as he rid he fell off his Horse, and never spake more, but being carried to the next Town, he lay in a sad condition for a day or two, and so dyed.

3. How many have destroyed themselves with [Page 3] immoderate drinking of Brandy, a Drink which hath been lately introduced into England, and as much destructive to Mens bodies as any liquor that hath been used for these many years. In the immoderate use of it: how many strong men have been slain by it? Every year scores, I could in­stance in many, they be so well known; I shall here forbear mentioning of them, but look upon this by way of Caution.

4. Not long since a Souldier in Salisbury in the midst of his health, drinking and carousing in a Tavern, drank a Health to the Devil, saying, That if the Devil did not come and pledge him, he would not belive that there was either God or Devil; whereupon his companion, striken with horror, hastned out of the Room; and presently after hearing a hideous noise, and smelling a stinking savour, the Vintner ran up into the Chamber, and coming in missed his guest, and found the Window broken, the Iron Bar in it bowed and all bloody, but the man was never heard of afterwards.

5. I saw, saith Acosta, two men coming Drunk out of a Tavern, which for a trifle killed one another.

6. A Butcher in Hastinfield having heard his Minister enveigh against Drunkenness, in his Cups at the Ale-house fell a jesting and scossing at the Ministers Sermons, but as he was Drinking Gods hand fell upon him, for the Drink stoping in his Throat choaked him that he dyed presently.

[Page 4] 7. A Vintner that accustomed himself to swear­ing and Drunkenness, as he was on the Lords day standing at his door with a Pot in his hand to invite Guests, there came suddenly such a Whirlwind as carried him up into the Air, after which he was never seen more.

8. At the Plow in Barnwel, neer Cambridge, a lusty young man with two of his Neighbours, and one Woman in their company, agreed to drink up a barrel of strong Beer, which accordingly they did; but within four and twenty hours, three of them dyed and the fourth hardly escaped after long Sickness.

9. On the tenth day of August 1629. one Tho­mas Willson a Labourer, a known Blasphemer of Gods name by Oaths and Curses, and given much to drinking and excess, upon a sl [...]ght occasion moved to displeasure against his Wife, and not willing to do much violence unto her, turned it unto himself, and with a Knife stobbed himself, many of his Friends and Neighbours being present, and so he dyed.

10. A young Gentleman being drunk, as he rod homeward, was thrown by his Horse, and had his Brains beat out with the pomel of his sword.

11. At Tenby in Pembrook-sh [...]re, a Drunkard in his drink fell from an high and steep Rock, whereby he was dashed to pieces.

12. One Vintner at Godmanchester in 1628. a [Page 5] known drunkard, and one that in his drink would talk prophanely of Religion and good men, fell from the top of a Pear-tree to the ground, and broke his Neck.

13. At Kesgrowe near Ipswitch, three Serving­men having been drinking hard, the Hostess would needs perswade them to stay, and drink three Outs, Wit out of their heads, Money out of their Purses, and the drink out of the Barrel; and as she was coming to them with a Pot in her hand, God suddenly struck her sick and speechless, her Tongue also swelling in her head; she never reco­vered her Speech, but dyed the third day after.

14. One in Norfolk, a notorious Drunkard, was drowned in a shallow Brook of water, with his Horse by him.

15. On the eighth of February, a company of drunkards, whose names are recorded as followeth: Adam Gibbens, George Kespel, John Koysel, Peter Horsdroff, John Warner, Simon Heamkers, Jacob Hermons, Hermon Frow: these eight Drunkards, in contempt of the blessed Sabbath, agreed to go to the Tavern on the Lords day to be merry, and coming to the house of one Anthony Hodge, an honest godly man, they called for burnt wine, sack, claret, and what not: the good man refusing to give them any, advised them to go to Church to hear the Word of God: but they all save Adam Gibbens refused, saying they loathed that exercise. Where­upon the Host departed, who being gone to Church, [Page 6] they began to curse and ban, wishing he might break his neck ere he returned, and wishing the Devil might break their necks if they went from thence till they had some Wine: whereupon the Devil in likeness of a young man appeared unto them, bringing in his hand a flaggon of wine, and so drank to them, saying, Good fellows be merry, you shall have wine enough; you seem lusty Lads, and I hope you will pay me well: who answering, said, they would either pay him, or ingage their necks for it, yea, rather then fail, their bodies and Souls: Thus these men continued drinking and swilling so long, till they could hardly see one another: at last the Devil their Host told them, that now they must pay for all; at which their hearts waxed cold: but the Devil bid them be of good chear, for now they must drink fire and brimstone with him in the pit of hell for ever. At which the Devil brake their necks asunder, and destroyed them. And thus ended these dr [...]nkards their miserable days, which may serve for a Cavet for all drunkards for ever.

16. Two examples I have known by Children, that have Murthered their own Mothers when they were in Drink; and one notorious D [...]unkard, who attempted to kill his own Father, of which being hindred, he fired his Barn, and was after executed.

17. On the third of August one T. Aldred of Godmanchester in Huntington-stire, a Butcher, and [Page 7] an accustomed drunkard, being desired by a Neigh­bour to unpitch a load of Hay, and being at that time in drink, let his Pitchfork slip out of his hand, and reaching to take it up, fell down with his head foremost, and fell upon his fork Tines, being up­wards, and struck himself to the Heart, and so dyed suddenly.

18. One John Bone of Ely Coachman, being given exeedingly to swearing and drunkenness, drank himself so drunk on the Lords day that he fell out of the Coach-box, and the horses trod him to death. See Clarks Examples.

19. A Bayliff of Hendly upon the Lords day, being drunk at Melford, got upon his horse to ride through the streets, saying, that his horse would carry him to the Devil, and presently his Horse cast him and broke his Neck.

20. A Glasier in Chancery-Lane not long since so overcharged his Stomach with wine, that com­ing home he fell a Vomiting in so exteraordinary a manner, that he broke a Vain and dyed two days after.

21. In the Year 1674. some Children near Lambeth, on the Lords day, having (as I was cre­dibly informed) got a pot of Drink amongst them, drank a health to the Devil, saying that he was a Son of a whore if he came not to pledge them; but before they had drank round, their invited guest the Devil appeared unto them, ready to pledge [Page 8] them, which almost frighted them out of their Wits, and they lay in a sad condition for some time afterward.

22. So great are these Sins of Drunkenness and Whoredom, and Sabbath-breaking, that it hath brought several persons to ruine, and unto un­timely and shameful ends. As for an Example; The young-man that was hanged for murthering his fellow-servant, by name Thomas Savage, confessed that the sin of Druhkenness, Whoring, and Sab­bath-breaking brought him to that untimely end.

23. Also likwise the Captain and Lieutenant of the Pyrates that were executed in 1674. con­fessed that Whoring and Ill company brought them to that untimely end.

24. So a young-man that was hanged in Chains in Kent, March last 1674. for murdering his sweet­heart and her son, confessed at the Gibbet that Drunkenness and Sabbath-breaking brought him to that untimely end.

25. So also the Two Men that Hang in Chains, the one at Hampstead, and the other between High-gate and Islington, this last year, all these confessed at the Gibbet with much grief of heart, that these too common sins of Drunkenness, Whoredom and excess, hath brought them to their untimely ends; how d [...]d they with grief of heart exhort all others to take warning by them, who are made publick spectacles of shame and Infamy.

26. And truly there is hardly any of those per­sons [Page 9] that are executed at Tyburn every month, but confess the same, that those sins have been their ruine. Consider of these things, O thou Drunkard and Whoremonger, and repent before it be too late, and take warning by these sad examples, lest thou fall with these persons, and pertake of these punishments.

Think not that those on whom the Tower of Shilo fell, were greater sinners then ye, but except you repent, you shall likewise perish, Luke 10.

27. Some Examples against Whoredom and Adultry, both from Scripture and History. 1. It is forbidden of God, as you may read, Exodus 20. 14. Thou shalt not commit Adultry, Luke 8. 20. thou knowest the Commandme [...], do not commit Adultry, complained of in Jer. 9. 1. Rom. 2. 2. Prov. 30. 20. Threatned, Psal. 50. 18. Read Mal. 3. 5. Heb. 13. 3. Whormongers and Adulterers will God judge. Read Prov. 6. 16. For by means of whorish women a man is brought to a morsel of bread, and the Adultress will hunt for the precious Life. Punished, Levite. 20. 10. Prov. 6. 32. David, the Sword never departed his house, 1 Sam. 2. 4. Ely's Sons. 1 Sam. 2. 4. With many other Scriptures against this beastly and filthy Sin, so much gloried in this Age to their very great shame. See these following Examples, the truth of which I could relate.

28. The Aegyptians used to cut off the nose of the Adultress, where to the Prophet alludes in Ezekiel

[Page 10] 29. Anno Christi 1583. In London two Citizens were committing Adultry together on the Lords day; who were immediately struck with fire from Heaven in the very act of uncleanness: Their bodies were found half burnt up, and sending forth a most filthy savour.

30. Mr. Cleaver reports of one whom he knew, that had committed the act of uncleanness, where­upon he fell into such horror of Conscience, that he hanged himself, leaving it thus written in a Paper, Indeed (saith he) I do acknowledge it to be utterly unlawful for a Man to kill himself, but I am bound to act the Magistrates part, because the Pu­nishment of this Sin is Death. See more in the book the sins of Whordome and Adultery condemned.

31. Lastly, God will make his Plagues wonderful against these sins; his curse will overtake the Swear­er, and Blasphemer, in their Souls and Bodies, per­sons and prosperity, in their goods and houses: when he begins he will not spare, he will make an end, he will do that that will make the Ears of them that hear to tingle, as is verified in these ensuing Ex­amples.

32. One Ann Avires, in the City of London Widow, forswore her self for a little money that she was to give for six pound of Tow, at a shop in Woodstreet, for which she was suddenly surprized by the judgment of God, and she fell down speechless immediately, and cast that upwards which by na­ture [Page 11] should be voided downward, and so dyed, to the terror of all perjured and forsworn wretches. See Clarkes Examples more at large.

33. An Innokeeper in the Town of Rutlingvin, who received a Budget of money from a passenger to keep for him, forswore the same before a Judge, giving himself to the Devil if he swore falsly, and was (by two that testified against him, which in­deed were two finds of hell) presently in the pre­sence of the Judge hoisted up into the Air, where he was never seen more.

34. Michael a Blasphemous Rabin, as he was Ban­queting with his companions, fell to Blaspheming of Christ, and his Mother Mary, boasting that he had gotten the Victory over the Christians God: But as he went out of the Room he fell down Stairs and broke his neck. See Fencilus.

35. The same Author reports what happened in Megalapole near to Voildstate, in the time of the celebration of the Feast of Pentecost, Anno 1651. The people being set on drinking and carousing, a Woman in the company commonly named the De­vil in her Oaths, till the Devil being so oft called upon, carried her through the gate alost in the Air before them all, and hanging a while in the Air, they found her fallen dead upon the ground without the Town. See Beards Theater.

36. I shall relate one example more, which hundreds of people near London can testifie the [Page 12] truth of, in October 1675. at Salt-Peter bank near Well Close, lately lived a Woman very much adicted to Drunkenness, Swearing, and unclean­ness, this Woman as her self afterwards confessed wronged a woman of two shillings, taking it away from her Child, and being taxed with it (forswore it before a Justice) wished the ground to open and swallow her a live if she had it, and at an other time wished that God would damn her if she had it, or knew any thing of it, and now God dealt with her accordingly, for the Devil suddenly possessed her and would several times have choaked her and destroyed her, thus she continued some time in a miserable condition. One Sunday coming to a Meeting in Gravel Lane she cryed out to the Mi­nister as he was going up into the Pulpit, Oh good Master pray for me, pray for me! Sometimes she would be lifted from the ground, and then a ratling in her throat, crying out, he choakes me; sometimes she would strive with the Devil with all her strength, and cry, be gone thou Rogue, I will serve God, in this manner she continued all the Prayer, and in the midst of the Sermon she was flung down violently headlong to the ground, and was taken up dead. God grant this may be a warning to all rash forswearers, and other lude livers.

7. A Credible Author relates of a swearing Courtier at Mans-field, who in the midst of his [Page 13] blasphemous Oaths, was taken up and carried a­way by the Devil.

38. The German History tells us, that at Tu­binga a desperate Boy devised new Oaths that were not Common in use. But the Lord sent a Canker, or some worse disease, that eat out his tongue, even the very instrument where with he blasphemed God.

39. How common are these and such like speeches in too many peoples mouths: As the Devil take me if I do such or such things, God con­sume me body and soul; or the plague, or the [...]x take or rot me. And abundance of other hellish Oaths: And vild wishes to them which I would have all persons to avoid, as they Tender their Im­mortal souls welfare.

40. At Wittenberg, before Martin Luther and other learned Men, a Woman, whose Daughter was possessed with a Spirit, confessed by her curse that Plague was fallen upon her: for being angry at a time, she bad the Devil take her, and she had no sooner spoke the word but he took her indeed, and possessed her after a strange sort. Infi­nite examples I might mention more, as that of the cholerick Father that wished that his Son might never stir from that place, it was no sooner said but done; his son stuck fast to the place, and could never be removed during life which he continued with a post at his back four years, and so dyed.

[Page] 41. The Romans were wont to have their fu­nerals at the Gate of Venus Temple; to shew that Lust was the harbinger and hastner of death.

42. In Germany a Gentleman of note sollicited a Citizens wife to uncleanness, which her Husband being inform'd of, watcht them so narrowly that finding them in bed together, first slew the Adul­terer, and then his own wife. Lut. Col.

43. Before Moses time it was a custom to burn the Adulteress in the fire, as appears in the case of Thamer, Gen. 38. 24. Prov. 7. 27. Speaking of Whorish Women; Her house is the way to Hell, going down to the Chambers of Death.

44. How doth this Sin of Whoredom raign amongst us, that many boast of this their shames, and are so hardened in this their Wickedness, that they go on'to the utter destruction of soul and Estate. Let me tell thee, Oh Whoremonger, and all filthy Harlots! that God will surely punish thee for this filthy Sin! and remember that for all this, God will bring thee to Judgement, and without Re­pentance, to the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone, where there is no redemption.

To conclude, let us learn by these sad and terri­ble examples to fear God; and take warning by them, and pray for Church and Kingdom, and a blessing upon our Children and families, Amen.