'TIs observ'd by Physicians, that every Country extra­ordinarily liable to a Disease, doth likewise yield some particular Herb or Remedy against that Di­stemper. In this Age, abounding with Fools that say, not onely in their hearts, but with their blasphemous lips, That there is no God, wherein so many positively deny an Om­nipotent Providence, and almost all live as if they did not re­gard it, it hath pleased the Divine Majesty to manifest his power by more frequent and immediate Examples amongst us: For (as the Royal Psalmist saith) The Lord is known by his judgements that he executeth, Psal. 9.16. Of which late dread­ful Instances I have thought it a seasonable service to make this Collection, consisting of such as have been most notorious and remarkable; not doubting but many more might be ad­ded, if Ministers and others would but be at the pains to ob­serve and communicate them, than which I know not any work can be more necessary and useful in a profane and unbe­lieving Generation.

I shall begin with a woman at Atherbury in Oxfordshire; who keeping a small Ale-house, had too much addicted her self to lewd Speeches, sometimes Oaths, and frequently Curses, as well on her self as others. It happened about the beginning of May this present year 1677, being all-alone in her house, a Neighbour-woman came thither for some strong drink, which she having drawn and received Twelve pence or some such piece of money, instead of justly returning the full Change, [Page 4]stopt and abated Two pence or Three pence out of it, besides what the present drink came to, pretending there was former­ly so much owing to her; which the other resolutely denying, the Hostess began to swear, and use several abominable Wishes, saying, God damn me, and the Devil burn me, if it be not so; which last words she often repeated: However, the other con­fident perhaps in the certainty of her knowledge to the con­trary, still persisting to deny it, and refusing to be gone with­out the rest of her money, the Ale-wife at last violently thrust her out of her house, and to prevent her coming in again, shut the door and lockt it against her. Thus with many horrid sin­ful Expressions (if not down-right Perjuries) this poor wretch made shift to wrangle her Neighbour out of this inconsidera­ble sum, but paid lamentably dear for the same: For behold! by a stupendious and terrible Jubgement from Heaven, as we cannot but suppose, she was immediately call'd to an Account, and Burnt to death, as she had foolishly and wickedly wisht, in a wonderful and unheard-of manner. For having so shut and lockt the door, the same was not opened, nor any further news heard of her, till several hours after, her Husband chanc'd to come home, and wondring to finde his door fast shut in the middle of the day, without being able to make any body an­swer within, after much inquiry forced open the door, and en­tring with one or two of his Neighbours, their eyes encoun­tred one of the most sad and dismal Spectacles that ever Mortal beheld: for in the midst of the floot lay the Reliques of his Wife; one side of her Body, and the Cloaths thereupon, from the soal of her foot to the crown of her head, being Consu­med and Burnt to Ashes, and nothing left but the Skeleton or Bones; whereas the other side remained whole, and the Cloaths thereon not so much as touch'd or sindg'd, though it was ob­serv'd, that the flesh and skin there was all turn'd black, as if it had been blasted with Lightning; but no visible fire neer her, nor indeed had there been any in the house that day. Consi­der this, all you that forget God, Psal. 50.22. and remember that to the wicked, Our God is a consuming fire.

The next Judgement is yet more astonishing, happening on the person of one John Duncalfe, born in the Parish of Codsole neer Wolver-hampton, but lately living in the Parish of Kings-Swinford in the County of Stafford, by Trade bred up a Wheel­wright, but of late leading an idle pilfering kind of life; So that in March this present year 1677, he did steal a Bible from one Goodwife Bays, and sold it to one Norton of Wombern, and being question'd for it, he positively denied it, and wisht He might Rot alive, and his hands Rot off, &c. if he had meddled with it: But there is a God that recompenceth the ungodly, and that sometimes according to their own wicked Wishes: For as soon as he had sold this Bible, he was taken with a Trem­bling as it were an Ague, and immediately his Hands began to Rot, and then he look'd on it as the hand of God for his Ly­ing Imprecations. The remarkableness of his Punishment drew many from all parts to behold him; and being poor and unable, by reason of this rotting of his hands, to do any work, and yet seeming otherwise in health and very good stomach, he was laid in a Barn, a Tender appointed to look after him, and Victuals provided for him. On April 26, being visited by a Mi­nister of that County, he observ'd his Condition to be thus: One hand so rotted off that it hung onely by the Muscles, no skin nor flesh on the wrist for four inches, the whole hand drawn up to­gether; so that both for figure and colour it resembled a Beast­hoof, which did all soon after drop off: and so he continu'd con­suming by degrees till the middle of June; at which time he had neither Hand nor Leg, but all rotted and dropt off from his wrists and knees, through which the bones appeared, but com­pass'd with corrupt and ulcerous flesh fill'd with Maggots; and to prevent flye-blowing, usually cover'd with Dock-leaves. The first Hand and his two Legs were buried May the 13th, and five days afterwards the other Hand came off. During all this time he could Eat, Drink, and Sleep, and as far as could be perceived had none or very little pain. At first he desired people to pray for him, but afterwards became more surly and morose, refusing to discourse with Ministers or other godly [Page 6]Visitants; and not shewing that Repentance as all good men hoped so terrible a Visitation might have wrought in him: But rotting on thus by degrees, about the later end of June he gave up the Ghost. A Spectacle so sad, that we may apply that Saying of Holy Writ, though spoken on another occasion; Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard the like long-continuing Mo­nument of Judgement, as we verily believe, in any Age.

'Tis within these two years last past, that one that was pri­soner in the Marshalseys for Debt being playing at Cards, upon some difference about their Game, fell a swearing and cursing in a lamentable manner; and amongst other lewd speeches, often wisht he might never stir more if it were not as he pre­tended: when behold! scarce were the words out of his mouth, but he falls down dead in the place without speaking a word, or stirring either hand or foot. Which Example we the rather press to your consideration, because many men that would be thought sober, and of good conversation, have got an ill habit of saying Ne'r stir, on every trivial occasion; which we hope this sad Instance will warn them to leave off: Nor are those less to be blam'd who hope to escape the punish­ment of Swearers, &c. by mincing their Oaths, as I'gad, Ʋdds­budd, &c. which indeed are no less than swearing by the Holy Name, and pretious Blood of God: And therefore be not de­ceived, God will not be mocked, Gal. 6.7.

In the month of October in the year 1675, a woman living neer Well-close, and not far from East-smithfield▪ having wron­ged a woman of Two-shillings, by taking the same away from a little childe to whom it was given to play with, being char­ged therewith before the Justice, fell down upon her knees, wisht that God would Damn her, and the Dveil forthwith take possession of her, and many other the like vile Imprecations, if she had the Money; yet in truth, as she afterwards confess'd, had pilfer'd the same: And Divine Justice dealt with her accor­ding to her Wish, by giving permission to the Devil; who sud­denly thereupon (as she related, and most that saw her believe) really possest her, and would several times have choak'd her; [Page 7]insomuch that coming on the Lords day into a publick Congre­gation, not far from the place aforesaid, she was before them all lifted up above the ground, & exceedingly tormented, with prodigious swelling in her throat and danger of being choak'd, and then she would desire them to pray for her, and seem to strive with the Devil in a strange Agony, crying out, Be gone, be gone, Satan! I will serve God, I will serve God, &c. But at last, as the Minister was in his Prayer, was lifted up by invisible means, and flung down headlong to the ground, whence she was taken up dead. The truth hereof is sufficiently known to hundreds about this City, who with Terrour were Eye-wit­nesses.

'Tis not four years since a woman neer Exeter being great with Childe, and having used her self to a wicked custome of saying, when any thing was denied or questioned, Let me never be delivered, or Let me perish with what I go with if it be not so: When her pains come upon her at the Expiration of her Rec­koning, though there appeared no natural Impediments, but rather all the signes of a happy Chide-birth, yet could she not by any Art be delivered; but after much languishing Torture both she and her unborn Infant perished according to her Wishes.

Though divers years since, yet 'tis still within the memory of man, and can be attested by several still living, how a Gen­tleman living at St. Edmunds in Suffolk, being an Usurer and great Oppressor and Grinder of the Poor, under pretence of kindness, the better to colour his Ill designes, was frequently wont to wish that he might Rot, if he wrong'd them: But God made him an Example of Vengeance: For in his later years he perished away in a strange manner, perfect Chalk-stones be­ing generated in and dropping out of the Calves of his Legs; of which at length he miserably died.

I shall conclude with a remarkable Speech and Confession of a Person of Quality, who was hang'd the 20th of Nov. 1615, on Tower-hill, for being Accessary to the horrid Murther of the Ingenious Sir Tho. Overbury. This Gentleman in an excellent [Page 8]and penitent Speech made immediately before his Death upon the Ladder, has this passage verbatim, taken out of the exact Copy then printed, p. 153. Viz. ‘I had almost forgotten to shew you a strange thing which God brought to my memory the last night, which was this: I confess I have been a great Gamester, and especially on the other side have wasted and plaid ma­ny sums of money, which exhausted a great part of my Means; which I perceiving, vowed speriously (not slightly or unadvisedly) to the Lord in my Vow and Prayers, Lord, let me be hang'd, if ever I play any more: Which not long after is most justly come upon me, whereof you are all Eye-witnesses, because a thousand times since I have broken this my Vow.’