Gods Judgments Upon Drunkards Swearers and Sabbath Breakers, Part 2 – Title page 2
OF BLASPHEMING THE NAME of GOD, By Curſed OATHES: With the Judgements of God upon CƲRSERS & SWEARERS.
THis curſed and crying ſin of taking the Lords Name in vain by wicked Oathes, hath like the River Nile, ſo overflowed the banks of Authority, that many who ſhould reſtrain the fury and rage of ſo horrid an Impiety, are too ſadly guilty of it. This ſin, to the ſad experience of this Nation, doth ſwarm in all corners of it; A man can hardly negotiate in the World, unleſſe he reſolve it no ſin to hear the holy Name of God, that God that made us, blaſphemed by all ſorts of people; Amongſt poor people its common, and for Gentlemen its ſadly accounted Generous and Valorous.
That it is a ſin againſt God, I hope ſo few doubt it, as I may be ſpared to prove it; the moſt forcible argument againſt it, lieth open in the poſſitive Command of God Almighty, which made Heaven and Earth.
Thou ſhalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; and the reaſon is a terrible one, by way of threatning; For the Lord will not hold him guiltleſſe: Which Commandment is ſeconded by Chriſt in his Sermon upon the Mount; Swear not at all, neither by heaven nor earth, margMath. 5.34.but let your yea be yea, and your nay nay.
The aggravations of this ſin are great, if parallel'd with the little reaſon for it, or profit by it: It muſt needs be a horrid ſin that can propound nothing as the object, but God himſelf: we may in this ſin confeſſe with David, Againſt thee onelyonly have I ſinned, and done wickedly. All the creatures he hath made bow to him, and to the remembrance of him: Shall that mouth that ſucks breath from God that made and daily preſerveth thee, breath out oathes and curſes againſt him? Oh impiety in the greateſt dimenſions! wickedneſſe with an Emphaſis! Would not ſuch ingratitude look odious in vulgar friendſhip? to ſit at thy friends Table, and there receive daily food at his care and coſt for thee, and for thee to make him the ſubject of thy malice and rage, and that to manifeſt it againſt his good name; Is not this … ſay, monſtrous ingratitude? would not this ſwell provocation to the greateſt latitude of revenge? Is not the Lords Name as the Apple of his …e? A thing he is jealous of:Prov. 6.34. If …alouſie be the rage of a man, which he …ill not ſpare in the day of venge…ce, nor wil regard any ranſom; What …nſt thou expect from the Eternal …od, with whom is terrible Majeſty?
It muſt be preſumed, thou knoweſt … to be a ſin; How inexcuſable then …ſt it be unto thee, whoſe conſci…ce is convinced thereof? It is a … therefore with the full conſent of … will, and for want of due care over thy heart and lips. Oh man, what is it can provoke thee, unleſſe the height of a Reprobate mind by blaſpheming the bleſſed Name of God! How canſt thou expect that blood to expiate thy ſins, and to waſh away thy iniquities, that hath ſo often ſpit his blood and wounds out of thy mouth? I think I ſhould not be guilty of over-raſh cenſure, if I ſay to ſuch as are given up to this horrid impiety; that its but as an earneſt of that curſed condition in torment, and that the Devil teaches thee in this world, that thou mayeſt be the more ready to blaſpheme God in the world to come; elſe what can be the meaning of mens giving up themſelves to this wickedneſſe? Conſidering
The little profit got by it, A fa… advantage God knowes! no more than to rob out of ſport, not need… and be puniſhed for it. What profit have you of thoſe things wherein one day you ſhall be aſhamed? Is it becauſe God forbids, that we will ſwear like that man of Venice, who for nine years, never ſtept out of the City, b… when on occaſion he was commanded upon forfeiture of his life not to ſti… then he was ſeen abroad: Much like that of the Apoſtle, Sin took occaſion by the Commandment. How canſt thou call on the Name of that God in the time of calamity and diſtreſſe, which thou haſt ſo often curſed and blaſphemed? He that will mention the Name of God, muſt depart from iniquity. Shall I, ſaith Polycarpus, that have ſerved God to ſuch an old age, prophane his ſacred and bleſſed name, that ſo lovingly hath preſerved my life unto this day? And being urged by the Proconſul to ſave his life, onelyonly replyed, Know I am a Chriſtian. It is indeed a ſin that makes men leſſe believed. A Heathen could ſay, He was unwiſe that put truſt in the words of a common ſwearer. And another Philoſopher ſayes, Virtue is never in that heart, which breaths out curſes and oathes. He is accounted by all ſober men, to be a prophane, wicked, and ungodly man, and its the greateſt height of prophanneſſe that can be; Its the onelyonly ſin and practiſe of devils in hell, to curſe, ſwear, and blaſpheme God. The godly have this Character given them, That they fear an oath; but the wicked are not afraid of a world of oathes. The common excuſe of this ſin is the cuſtom of it, which is ſo ſlender, that it ſtrengthens it, and indeed aggravates it; for cuſtom in ſin by degrees hardens the heart from the fear of God.
This ſin indeed is hatcht in the bowels of paſſion, which boiling to a height, vomiteth up all the corrupt filth and ſcum of the ſoul, caſting it in the face of God. Beware therefore of paſſion, which through the depravedneſſe of our natures make us like mad dogs, that run at every thing in their way, they bark at the Moon: To ſee a man rage againſt God becauſe his neighbour hurteth him, is a perfect madneſſe in reaſon. Strive againſt the cuſtom of this ſin, thou wilt loſe thy ſenſes elſe, and the ſenſe of it, which is the height of ſin; Its Gods giving up a ſoul to ſin, when it loſes the ſenſe that it is a ſin. Beware of little ones, they are the ſpawn of greater, Faith and Troth, are the livery of Gods Wounds and Blood, and God damn thee. We damn our ſouls by this ſin at a low rate, if we conſider the little, either pleaſure or profit of it.
Avoid evil ſociety, curſers, and ſwearers, are not to be aſſociated with, leſt partaking of their ſin, thou taſte of their puniſhment. If a Maſter of a Family; or School-Maſter; deſtroy it there, nip it in the bud, and reſolve with David, that none ſuch ſhall be under thy roof. I conclude with Pſal. 25. Let them be confounded that ſin without a cauſe.
If reaſon prevail not, remember the penalties of the Lawes, which though ſevere at this day, yet ſhort both in the greatneſſe and execution of former times. Philip King of France, made a Law; That whoſoever blaſphemouſly ſwore ſhould be drowned: And Max. the Emperour; That every vain ſwearer ſhould pay 13 ſhillings 4 pence, or if he refuſed, to be executed. In Hen. the fifth's time, A Law was made againſt prophane and vaine ſwearing; The forfeiture for a Duke 40 ſhillings, a Barron 20 ſhillings, a Knight or Eſquire 10 ſhilling, a Yeoman 3 ſhillings 4 pence, and a ſervant, to be whipt; and this Law was ſo well executed, that all the Nation over, very few were heard to ſwear an oath. Theſe were times of leſſe light, than we pretend unto, yet a ſpirit of Reformation for God, was much more above our Age we live in.
If ſtill we will not forbear, ſee Gods threatnings againſt this ſin. In the Law ſtoning to death was the loweſt puniſhment:Levit. 24.14. Bring him forth, that all the people may ſtone him.
In that black and forlorne band of ſinners,Hoſea 2.4. the Swearer leads the Van, which together with other ſins, maketh blood to touch blood, and the land to mourn. In Zachariah 5.3. The thief and the ſwearer are linked together, againſt whom the flying Roll, with the curſe of God is threatned to the conſumeing of their Houſe, Timber, Poſts, and Stones. As he clothed himſelf with curſing, margPſal. 109.13.ſaith the Pſalmiſt; So let it come into his bowels like water, and like oyle into his bones. There is nothing more uſual and certain, then for the arrows of this curſed Quiver, to reverberate and fly back upon a mans own face. God will be a ſwift witneſſe againſt ſuch as diſhonour his holy name by profane ſwearing.Neh. 13, 2. Mal 3 4.
Now thoſe that will not be warned by the nature of this ſin, nor danger to ſoule and body, nor be diverted from it by Gods threatnings; let ſuch harken to his juſt Judgements in theſe following examples, which are not only as a cloud of witneſſes againſt profaneneſſe, hut alſo ſtand as a Pillar of Salt to warn thee from diſobedience, and wilfull running in a carreer, of ſin to thy eternal ruine.
Earl Goodwin having ſlain Alfred, wiſhed at the Kings Table, if it were ſo, that the bread he was eating might choak him, which God in Juſtice ſuffered, ere he ſtirred.
A Fiſherman (known to the Authour) coming with a Boat of Mackarell to a Town in Suffolke, Mr. Beadles Diaryand being the firſt that came that year, the people preſſed hard to be firſt ſerved; one ſteps into his Boat, he preſently taketh up a ſtone, ſwearing by God he would make them ſtand farther off; which was no ſooner ſaid, but he fell down and died preſently: How many have I heard ſwear by God as commonly as ſpeak? Oh take heed of Gods judgement! conſider what a mercy it is to thy ſoul, that thou art not thus judged.
A Gentleman in Edward the ſixths time riding with other Gentlemen,Mr. Ridſley Serm. being reproved for ſwearing, opened his mouth wider, and raged worſe and worſe; Mr, Haines Miniſter, tells him mildly the danger of it, and that at the great day an account muſt be rendred; he with Solomons fool refuſes inſtruction, bids him prepare, and take care for his own eſtate. Mr. H. replies, repent and amend, for death is as ſure as uncertain. But raging and roaring with curſed oathes, he ſayes; Gods wounds, take no care for me; and and coming to a Bridge, his horſe leapt over with him; who like an impenitent wretch ended his dayes. As he had lived, crying, Horſe, and man, and all to the Devill.
R. Junius.In Lincolnſhire, there lived a Servingman, who was ſo accuſtomed to ſweare, as at every ſmall occaſion he uſed Gods blood in his mouth, his friends mildly warne him from the evill of thoſe wayes, leſt vengeance follow at the heels of his impiety; but he takes no notice of friendly admonition, being viſited by the hand of God, his friends again adviſe him to repent of his wickedneſſe, but God intended not that affliction to have ſo ſanctifying a vertue in it, as to ſoften his obdurate heart; who by his accuſtomed oathes had forfeited the patience and long-ſuffering of God, and turned his mercy into fury; He grows worſe, and nigher to the chambers of death; and hearing the Bell toll for him, ſtarts up; and under the pains and violence of death, cryes, Gods wounds the Bell tolls for me, but he ſhall not have me yet. Suddenly the blood from his Noſe, Mouth, Wriſts, Knees, and all the joynts of his body flowes out in abundance, that he became a ſpectacle of Gods wrath, and died. O the dreadfulneſſe of Gods Judgements.
There was a man in Germany ſo much accuſtomed to uſe the Devill in his mouth; that if he did but ſtumble,Theatre of Gods Judgements. the devill was uppermoſt; he was often reprehended for it, to no purpoſe, except to make his ſin the leſſe excuſable; which he continuing in, coming to a Bridge, ſtumbled and fell down; ſaying, Hoyſt up with a hundred Devils, inſtantly the Devill appears, and carried him quite away, that he was never heard of after.
One who was given much to curſing & …wearing, being on his death-bed,Mr. Bolton. moſt wickedly deſired thoſe that ſtood by, to help him with oathes: and to ſwear for him and himſelf, ſwearing ſo faſt, as one would think there was little need of any other then himſelf in the world, that could ſo quickly find out a way for to blaſpheme God, and damn his own ſoul.
Theatre of Gods Judgements.In the City of Savoy, There lived one, who after much exhortation and reproof, hardened his neek againſt all admonition; the plague breaking out light upon him, he with his family retires to a garden, the words of reproof by the mouth of Gods Miniſters follow him, that if poſſible the plague of his heart might not at the ſame inſtance, together with Gods outward hand, contribute to the eternal ruine of his ſoul, with that of his body, but all in vain; as good turn the courſe of the Sun, as his ſoul accuſtomed to ſin, at laſt ſwearing and curſing, with the Devill in his mouth, the Devill ſuddenly hurries him away into the ayre, in ſight of his wife and Kinſwoman, who ſaw the Devil flying with him over their heads; his cap fell off his head, and was found at Koſne, but himſelfe was never heard of to this day. The Magiſtrate at the noyſe of this exemplary piece of Gods juſt Judgement, repaires to the witneſſes of it, who teſtify, with a ſad relation; their woful experience, no leſſe horrid then true.
Three ſouldiers travelling through a wood in the Coutrey of Samurtia, Mr. Clerks examples.A tempeſt of thunder and lightening aroſe, one of them breaks into his uſual oathes, and in the inſtant of ſwearing, the violence of the wind (no doubt directed by God) throwes a tree upon him, whereof he preſently was cruſhed to pieces.
Another that was very much habituated to ſwear by Gods Armes, had his own arm hurt with a knife, and could find no remedy, but it feſtered daily, till it rotted and mouldred away gradually, and he through Anguiſh and Torment died,
And one Michael a Jewiſh Rabbin, as he was ſwearing by the Name of Jeſus, fell down and broke his neck.
A boy at Tubing in Germany, invented ſtrange and unuſual oathes, but God ſent a Canker, that eat out his tongue; theſe are ſignal tokens of Gods anger; they are ſo immediate from himſelf, that none can ſee leſſe then a wonderful hatred in God of them.
At Benevides, a village in Spain, a whirlwind aroſe; two young men being in a field, apprehending the approaching danger, fall down upon the ground, leſt the violence of it might carry them into the ayre; when it was paſt, the one ariſes in great amazement; the other being a very notorious curſer, and ſwearer, lyes dead; his bones ſo cruſht, that his joynts turned every way, his tongue rooted out, and could not be found.
In June 1649. A ſouldier at Warre, goeth with others to waſh in a ſhallow river, asked whether there was a deeper to ſwim in, and they anſwered there was one nigh hand, but dangerous, by reaſon it was a deep pit, who replies, God damne me, if it be as deep as hell I will in; he was no ſooner in, but ſunk to the bottom, and never roſe again; which, ſayes Mr. Clark, was atteſted by good witneſſes.
And God met with that ſwearer and curſer in France, a Citizen of Paris, whom Lewis 9. ordered to have his lips ſeared together with a hot Iron, ſaying; I would to God that with ſear…ng my own lips, with a hot Iron, I could …aniſh out of my Realm all abuſe of …athes!
A ſouldier falling ſick in his jour…ey through Marchia, in Almain, Theatre of Gods Judgements.ſtay…d in his Inne; and when recovered, …emanded of his Landlady the mony …e gave her to ſecure for him, but con…ulting with her husband; reſolved …ot to confeſſe any; ſo denied it: the …ontroverſie aroſe to a contention, till …he Landlord interpoſed, and juſtifi…d his wife, and thruſt him out of his …ouſe; the ſouldier drawes, and …ruſting at the door, the Landlord …ries, theeves! the ſouldier is impri…oned, and ready for Judgement: The …ay of pronunciation of death, the devil …ters into priſon, tells him, he is con…emned, but if he will reſign up ſoul and …dy to him, he would free him; he like a …hriſtian, repells thoſe fiery darts …ith a ſtrong denial; which the de…ll ſeeing, perſwades him when called … the Bar, to intreat the Judge to …ant him the man in a blew cap to …ead his cauſe, for he was, (and that … was) innocent of the crime brought …ainſt him. The poor ſouldier being arraigned, had this blew-cap't Attourney allowed him for his Advocate, who affirmed this poor man to be much abuſed, relating all the circumſtances of the money, with the place where it was laid, the Landlord denied all with an imprecation, wiſhing the devill might take him, if it were true! The devill looking for this advantage, took this poor man, and carried him up into the ayre; who was never more heard of: Oh that the Lord would open ſome mens eyes to ſee Gods mercy to them, that though they have often been guilty, yet God in mercy ſpared them! tremble at the juſtice of God, and let theſe warning… be ſo to us.
A certain Prieſt in Ruthnerwall wiſhed if Luthers doctrine were true a thunderbolt might deſtroy him! a… ter three dayes a Tempeſt, with lightning and thunder, ſo terrified him that he run to Church, and at his devotion was ſtruck down; who recovering, and led homewards, a flaſh o… lightening burnt him to death, a… black as hell it ſelf.
One in France, of ſome knowledge and profeſſion in Religion, in paſſion wiſht the Devill to take one of his children! the child immediately was poſſeſſed, and, though the prayers of the Church prevailed with God for the releaſe from this evill ſpirit, yet, dyed of it.
A man in anger, wiſhing his wife to the Devil! ſhe was forthwith poſſeſſed, and never recovered it.
A young Courtier at Mansfield, whoſe cuſtomary aſſeveration was, the Devill take me. The Devill when he was aſleep, took him indeed, and threw him out of a window, where though he was not ſlain,Luthers Colloquia. yet he learnt to curb that unruly member of the tongue, by eſcaping the danger of a ſeverer puniſhment.
At a Horſe-race, where divers Noble-men were preſent, ſome cries, the Devill take the laſt, which happened …o be a Horſe that broke looſe, which the Devill carriad away, and was never ſeen more. Theſe examples may …artle us, and not only to warn us, …ut alſo as a Lanthorn of the Lord to direct our feet from theſe paths of ſin …nd Ruine.Theatre of Gods Judgements.
At S. Gallus in Helvetia 1556. A man that made foul linnen clean, and coming out of a Tavern drunk, wiſhed the Devill to take him if ever he followed his Trade more! next day being ſober, he regards not his oaths, the devill appears to him in the likeneſſe of a tall man, and told him of his promiſe, preſently ſmiting him upon the ſhoulders, ſo that his feet and hands preſently were dryed up, and he trembling with horror; yet God gave the devill no farther power, that it might be an example both to himſelf and others.
Mr. Terry's Eaſt-India voyage.Relates of a Taylor, that whilſt the Fleet was engaged in fight with a Portugal Galleaſs, he cometh running out of the Cabbin with his Gooſe in his hand, ſwearing, he would never follow his Trade more, throwing the Gooſe into the Canon mouth; ſuddenly came a Bullet from the enemy, and ſhot him to pieces.
Theatre of Gods Judgements.Henry Earl of Schwartburg, by frequent and wicked wiſhes, was at laſt anſwered in his own coyn, for at every common occaſion, he deſired he might be drowned in a Privy, if ſuch a thing were not ſo or ſo! which God in Juſtice anſwered; for he died that filthy death.
A very remarkable ſtory is recorded of a woman in the Dutchy Megalopole, Theatre of hiſtor….at a village called Oſter, who gave her ſelfe to the devill by her frequent curſings, and wicked oathes; and at a wedding ſhe was publickly reproved, and dehorted from her ſins; but taking no warning, the Devill, when they were all merry, came in perſon, and with horrid cries and roarings, mounted her into the ayre, before the face of all the company, and hovering over the Town, the people that ſaw it were extremely perplexed with fear; ſhe is torn into four parts, which are let fall into as many high wayes; as directions to avoyd the road to hell. The Devill returns to the Feaſt, and before the Mayor, and all the company, threw her intralls upon the Table, ſaying. Behold theſe diſhes of meat belong to thee, whom the like deſtruction …wayteth, if thou doſt not amend thy wicked life. This is teſtified by Mr. Herman Miniſter of Oſter; the Mayor and all the Town; who deſired it to …e communicated to poſterity for an example, and land-mark to avoyd eternall deſtruction.
Theatr. Gods Judgements.A Gentleman of Gorlitz, having invited many friends to ſupper, who failed him; in a rage, wiſhed, That all the Devils in Hell would come: preſently his Table is furniſhed as well with gueſts as meat, whom he welcomed, but perceiving clawes inſtead of hands, it was not time to bid him be gone; his Wife follows him, leaving in the houſe onelyonly a child and a fool, by the fire ſide, who through mercy were not hurt. We are by theſe, bid to beware of raſh imprecations to our ſelves or others.
Stow. Cron.Its freſh, the ſtory of Hacket o… Oundle in Northamptonſhire, who (159… in the Raign of Queen Eliz. the 3… year) in his common diſcourſe uſe… to ſay: If it be not true, then let a v… ſible confuſion come upon me: and h… had his deſire; for being delivered u… of God to Sathan, he fell foul off … many errours, that at laſt he arrive… to the height, and called himſelf Chriſt: with himſelf he ſeduced to Gent. Coppinger, and Arthington, w… believed all Hacket ſaid; and wh… he bid them proclaim, That Chriſt u… come with his fan in his hand, to Ju… the Earth; they did, through … City; and in Cheapſide, got upon two Carts, Crying Repent, repent! for Chriſt Jeſus is come to judge the VVorld; they affirmed alſo, that Hacket preſented Chriſt, by taking his Glorified body, &c. Hacket hereupon is apprehended, brought before the Lord Mayor of London, and at laſt, hanged on a Gibbet in Cheapſide, uttering to the laſt horrid blaſphemies againſt God. This was a viſible confuſion indeed.
Before Mr. Luther and others:Theatre of God, Judgements. A woman at VVeteburg, whoſe Daughter was poſſeſſed, did confeſſe; that ſhe in fury wiſhed the Devil to take her! who inſtantly poſſeſſed her, with an evil ſpirit, to their great terrour and fear.
John Peter, ſon to the cruel Keeper of New-gate London, Fox Acts.was a horrid ſwearer and curſer, uſually ſaying, If it be not ſo, I pray God I may rot ere I die? and ſo he did with great miſery.
In Miſina, Sep. 11. 1552.Theatre Hiſto. A child not quick enough to diſpatch his fathers will as he ought, provoked the fathers rage into this imprecation; That he might never ſtir from that place! its preſently granted, his ſon ſticks immoveable, for his body could not be moved or bent: Some godly people meet and pray for him, whereby his anguiſh is aſſwaged: yet he continued three years ſtanding with a poſt at his back; and four years he continued ſitting, and then ended his life; yet this was a mercy to him, For that he doubted not of the mercy of Jeſus Chriſt to ſave him: and being demanded how he did? frequently replyed: That he was there faſtened of God, and his mercy onelyonly could releaſe him. Here was a living example of raſh oathes.
At Neoburg in Germany, a curſed mother, wiſhing ſhe might never ſee her ſon alive again, was anſwered; for the child was drowned the ſame day.
Theatr. of Gods Judgements.In Aſtorga, A woman curſed her ſon, wiſhing the Devils of Hell to take him from her preſence! with many horrible execrations: it being late at night, the child was afraid of her anger, retiring to a little court behind the houſe, to whom appeared men of grim aſpects, and large compoſures, who carried him into the aire with ſuch ſwiftneſſe, as was not poſſible to believe, and alighting amongeſt ſome buſhes, trailed him, to the great torturing of his body, and tearing of ſundry parts thereof. The boyes thoughts being better fixt than his mothers, craved aid of God, and ſo was delivered. The devils bringing him back through the aire, put him in at a little window in a chamber, and there he was found almoſt out of his wits, and ſadly tortured and mangled, in his face, hands, legs, &c.
That penitent Gentleman,Wilſon K. James. Sir Gerviſe Ellowis, being drawn in to be a partaker in the ſad death of that poor Gent. Sir Tho. Overbury, in the Tower; was at laſt brought as a ſufferer to Tower-Hill, acknowledging the juſt hand of God againſt his raſh and unpreſerved vow, which a great loſſe at Cards one time occaſioned; in the ſenſe whereof, clapping his hands upon his breaſt, he vowed ſeriouſly betwixt God and his own ſoul; That if ever he played again, he wiſhed he were hanged! and being upon the ladder, Now, ſayes he, God in Juſtice hath made me keep my imprecation, and paid my vow, by this juſt, though violent, death; and ſo wiſhed all to take warning by his ſad example!
Sin ſtigmatiſed.Mr. Young reports of Nichanor, who for his blaſphemous curſing and ſwearing, had his tongue cut out, and in ſmall pieces thrown to the fowls.
Sword againſt Swearers.A young Couple in love together, ſolemnize their private promiſes alone, the maid being rich, and the young man poor, ſhe to aſſure him of her love, promiſes that unlikeneſſe of fortunes ſhall not diſoblige her engagements, nor diſinherit her of that loyalty which ſhe hoped grace as well as good nature, had planted in her; which he, though before earneſtly fearful, that ſhe might be as changeable as others; did now nevertheleſſe content himſelf in the ſtrength of this aſſurance, and ſo at the giving their faith one to another, ſhe with many more imprecations tied her ſelf moſt ſtrongly with this, That the Devil would take her away that day ſhe married to another. She marries another, and on the Wedding-day two gueſts uninvited, come well mounted to the door, and dine with them, and were made welcome; after dinner, one of them complements the Bride, and borrows her hand to lead the Dance, and after a turn or two, lead a Dance which none could follow; for in preſence of all her friends, he carries her out of doors, and notwithſtanding her crying for help, ſhe is mounted into the aire, and with his companion and horſes, was never ſeen more. See the fruits of raſh vows, oathes, and imprecations, they are not to be ſlightly dealt withal; for God takes notice of our own deſires, when we never think of our words, how we muſt give an account of them.
Two prophane young men ſtriving who ſhould be moſt exquiſite in oathes,Dr. Williams true Church. were met with by Gods Judgement in Juſtice; for he that out-vied the other in ſwearing was immediately diſtracted.
Alſo he relateth of two young men, delighting themſelves in ſwearing; ſporting with oathes, as the flie with the flame, are overtaken with Gods Judgement, the one is ſtruck dumb, and never ſpake word more, the other was diſtracted: both of them ſtanding to the example of all young men, that do not remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth, unleſſe by blaſpheming and curſing it.
Mr. Nowel.A Noble perſon of the City of Eflinghen, at a loſſe by gaming, began to ſwear and curſe bitterly, in which rage and madneſſe, he mounts his horſe for home, the Devil meets him, pulls him off, who with his ſervants was miſguided all the night by evil ſpirits; and in the morning finding themſelves not loſt, they get their Maſter ſafe to Bethen-Hanſen, where in great torment for three dayes, he yeilded Juſtice victor.
A woman in Marchia, being a prophane curſer and ſwearer, was juſtly left by God to Sathan; for in ſight of many people ſhe is ſnatched into the air, and thrown down again, which brake her neck. God we ſee can break us from our ſins and lives together, if we do not from the firſt, break off by repentance.
Theſe two I have from a reverend Divine of this County.One Margret VVood, of Allercleugh, in the Pariſh of Stanhop, in the County of Durham, was notoriouſly known for many years, upon every ſlight occaſion, to uſe this imprecation, I wiſh I may ſink into the earth. Upon the laſt day of Auguſt 1655. ſhe with one Elinor Maſon of the ſame Pariſh, being both waſhing of lead oare, to fit it for the Lead-mill, and ſtanding upon the ſame ſpot of ground, where many horſes laden with Lead had paſſed the immediate day before; the earth ſuddenly failed under them, and ſwallowed them both up; next day, when their dead bodies were digged out, Elinor Maſon was found with her body erect, but Margeret VVood was many yards deeper within ground, and her head direct downwards.
One Elinor Short, of the ſame Pariſh, did frequently uſe this imprecation; I wiſh my feet may rot off, if this or that be not ſo or ſo: It pleaſed the Juſt God about 20 years ago, to viſit her with a pain in her feet, which by degrees did rot quite off, as afterwards did her legs alſo; and ſhe is yet alive at this day, as a Monument of Gods ſignal Judgement: ſhe creepes upon her hands and thighs, and doth often acknowledge Gods juſt dealing with her.The Relation from his Brothers own mouth now alive.
Robert Durance, Butcher in Carliſle, was a known Swearer and Drunkard, who about 30 years ago, being playing at Cards with ſome of his companions, duplicate page duplicate page and having loſt all his money, except 30 s began fearfully to ſwear he would be revenged upon himſelfe, whereupon he run out at the gates of the City towards the River Eden, and though he was followed by divers, ſome on Horſe-back, yet did he deſtroy himſelf by leaping into the River; in which River, hard by the place where he leapt in, he lay for the ſpace of four years; at the end of which, a Fiſherman found the lower parts of his body, only the other parts being conſumed.1645. William Knot of Dalſton in Cumberland being a common ſwearer, when he was a ſervant to Alderman Grey of York, he fell into a lead full of boyling liquor, by which means in ten days he dyed.
1627.John Preſtman of Weighton in Cumberland, A Sheriffes Bayliffe, being accounted a common ſwearer, one night when he was drunk at Carliſle, went out in the night; and notwithſtanding the perſwaſion of his Landlord, leapt over the Bridge with his horſe, and was drowned in the River Caude.
One Hudſon of Dalſton in Cumberland, did wager with another man, who ſhould ſwear more oathes by God; the other man was by the juſt judgment of God ſtruck dead ere he parted, & Hudſton was ſtruck dumb to his dying day; and though he lived many years after, yet could ſpeak nothing, but ſwear by God, which he did upon every occaſion. Oh the juſtice of God to ſome, and the patience and forbearance to others, waiting to be gracious: let ſuch as ſwear by the name of God, look upon this example, this ſad example.
On May Eve, Mr. Burtons Tragedy, &c.1634. one Troe of Gloce…ter a Carpenter, in the Pariſh of St. Michael, being demanded by ſome, whether he would go with them and fetch the May-pole, ſwore by the Lords wounds he would go, though he never went more. But mark the juſtice of God; on May day morning, as he was working on the May-pole, before it was finiſhed, he was by a Divine ſtroke of Juſtice ſmote with ſuch a lameneſſe, and ſwelling in all his limbs, that he could neither goe, nor lift his hand to his mouth, to feed himſelfe, but was forced to keep his bed for half a year together, and to this day goeth lame, May 4. 1636.
OF THE SABBATH DAY, WITH GODS JUDGEMENTS UPON THE PROFANERS thereof.