A wonderful example of God's justice shewed upon one Jasper Conningham a gentleman born in Scotland, who was of opinion, that there was neither God, nor Devil. To the tune of, O neighbour Robert.

A Wonderful Example of God's Juſtice ſhewed upon one Jaſper Conningham A Gentleman born in Scotland, who was of Opinion, that there was neither GOD, nor Devil. To the Tune of, O Neighbour Robert.

IT was a Scotch-man, a Scotch-man, lewd of life, That long had lived unlawful from his Wife: His name was Jaſper Conningham as I did underſtand, Whoſe dwelling was at Aberdeen, a Town in fair Scotland. He had a Siſter which was both fair and bright, Worſhipfully Weded, unto a worthy Knight; Godly, wiſe, and vertuous, in every thing was ſhe, A fairer comely Lady in Scotland could not be. Her wicked Brother ſuch inward pains did prove, That with his Fair Siſter he greatly was in love: He watches time and wooes her, he ſhews to her his mind, And ſtill he ſays ſwéet Siſter, be not to me unkind. This comely Lady in mild and gentle wiſe, Vnto her brother thus modeſtly replyes: The Lord forbid, dear Brother, I ſhould conſent at all, To ſuch a damned action, to bring our Souls in thrall. Are not great torments prepar'd for hateful ſin? Is not God as Rig • teous as ever he h • th been? Is not Hell prepared, with quenchleſs flames of fire, To give ſuch wicked perſons their due deſerved hire, Wherefore dear Brother, repent and call for Grace, Let not theſe motions within your heart take place: Conſider how to judgment we ſhall be one day brought, To anſwer for our Follies, which in our lives we w • ought. Her Brother hearing her Godly Chriſtian talk, Within the Garden as they alone did walk; Blaſphemouſly replyed, as ſhameleſs as he ſtood, Saying ſhe had declar'd a Tale of Robin Hood. You are deceived, fair Siſter, then ſaid he, To talk of Heavens Glory, or Hells plagues unto me: Theſe are deviſed Fables, to keep poor Souls in fear, That were by wiſe men written, though no ſuch things there were. You ſpeak of reckoning, and of a judgement-day, And after life is ended, and fleſh conſum'd away; And of a God moſt juſtly, will plague all things amiſs, And thoſe that do believe it, are much deceiv'd I wis. Alas, ſaid he, my Siſter, theſe things are nothing ſo; No God, nor Devil is biding, in Heaven nor Hell I know: All things are wrought by Nature; the Earth, the Air, the Sky There is no joy nor ſorrow, after th • t men do dye. Therefore let me have pleaſure, while here I do remain, I fear not God's diſple • ſure, nor Hells tormenting pain: No ſonner had he ſpoken this foul blaſphemous thing, But that a heavy judgment upon him God did bring. For in the Garden, whereas he did abide, Suddenly a Fire ſprung up on every ſide; Which round about incloſed this damned wretch that day, Who roar'd and cry'd moſt grievous but could not ſtart away.

THis fearful fire, up to his knees did riſe, Burning blew like Brimſtone, in moſt outragious wiſe: The Lady which beheld it, ran crying in for aid, To pluck away her Brother, which in the fire ſtaid. But nought prevailed, for all that they could do, Long Staves, and alſo Pitchforks, they reached him unto; Becauſe they durſt not venture near to the fiery flame, He taking hold upon them, to draw him out of the ſame. But not a finger nor hand that he could move, His Arms hung dead behind him, great pains that he did prove; And now he bands and curſes that day that he was born, And wiſh • s that his Carcaſs by Devils might be torn. Now I feel ſurely, quoth he; there is a God, That ſorely doth plague me with his ſtrong Iron Rod: O hide me from his preſence, his looks are death to me, Nothing but wrath and vengeance about him do I ſee. I have deſpiſed him, but can no whit repent, My heart is hardned, my mind cannot relent, No pitty nor compaſſion, nor mercy is in ſtore, For me vile wretched creature, deſpis'd for evermore. I am in Hell tormented, and to endleſs pain, Look how the Devils torment me in ſtretching every vein: Look how they ſwarm about me, O what hell fiends are theſe, Woe worth the time that ever I did the Lord diſpleaſe. I burn in flaming fire, yet do no whit conſume, My conſcience doth torment me, that did in ſin preſume: Alas! my loving ſiſter, now do I know full well, There is a God moſt righteous and eke a Devil in hell. And with theſe ſpeeches his Eyes fell from his head, And by ſtrings hung dangling below his Chin ſtark dead: See how the Devils, then he ſaid, hath pluckt my eyes out quite, That always was unworthy to view the heavenly light. Then from his mouth there fell his foul blaſphemous tongue, In very ugly manner, moſt piteouſly it hung; And there away he rotted, in all the Peoples ſight, By Lice and filthy Vermine, it was conſumed quite. With gaſtly groaning and ſhrieks that ſounded high, Two hours after this Curſed Man did lye; And there at length he dyed, and then the fire ceas'd; His Carcaſs ſtunk more filthy than any Carrion Beaſt. No man was able for to endure the ſmell, Nor yet to come to bury him, as true Report doth tell; Vntill he was conſumed he lay above the ground, The doors about the Garden, therefore was locked round. Let all Blaſphemers take warning by this thing; Leaſt that God's Vengeance they do upon them bring: And Lord grant all Chriſtians thy holy Grace and fear, They may think on the puniſhment that Conningham had here.