London January the 13th 1583. at Paris-Garden where upon the Sabbath-Day were gathered together as accustomably they used great Multitudes of profane People to behold the Sport of Bear-baiting without respect of the Lord's-Day or any Exercise of Religion required therein Which profane Impiety the Lord that he might chasten in some sort and shew his Dislike thereof he caused the Scaffolds suddenly to break and the Beholders to tumble headlong down so that to the number of Eight Persons Men and Women were slain therewith besides many others which we re sore hurt and bruised to the shortening of their Days 7. The like Example happened at 3 Town in Bedfordshire called Risley in the Year 1607. where the Floor of a Chamber wherein a Number were gathered together to see a Play on the Sabbath-Day fell down by means whereof many were sore hurt and some killed Surely a Friendly Warning to such as more delight themselves with the Cruelty of Beasts and vain Sports than the Works of Mercy and Religion the Fruits of a true Faith which ought to be the Sabbath-Day's Exercise 8. Not long since in Bedfordshire a Match at Foot-ball being appointed o the Sabbath in the Afternoon whilst Two were in the Belfry tolling of a Bell to call the Company together there was suddenly heard a Clap of Thunder and a Flash of Lightning was seen by some that sate in the Church Porch coming through a dark Lane and flashing in their Faces which much terrified them and passing through the Porch into the Belfry it tripped up his Heels that was tolling the Bell and struck him stark dead and the other that was with him was so sorely blasted therewith that shortly after he died also Dr. Twiss on the Sabbath Ibid. 9. At a place called Tidworth on the Sabbath-day many being met together to play at Foot-ball in the Church-Yard one had his Leg broken which presently Gangrening he forthwith dyed thereof Eodem 10. Anno 1634. on a Lord's-day in the time of a great Frost Fourteen Young Men while they were playing at Foot-ball on the Ice on the River Trent near to Gainsborough meeting all together in a Scufflle the Ice suddenly brake and they were all Drowned Ibid. 11. In the Edge of Essex near Drinkley two Fellows working in a Chalk Pit the one was boasting to his Fellow how he had angred his Mistriss with staying so late at their Sports the last Sunday Night But he said he would anger her worse next Sunday He had no sooner said this but suddenly the Earth fell down upon him and slew him outright and by the fall thereof is Fellows Limb was broken who had been also sharer with him in his Jollity on the Lord's-day Ibid. 12. At Alâ—ester in Warwickshire upon the coming forth of the Declaration for Sports a Lusty Young Woman went on the Sabbath-day to a Green not far off where she said she would Dance as long as she could stand but while she was dancing God stuck her with a violent â—â—isease whereof within two or three Days after she died Ibid. 13. Also in the same place not long after a Young Man presently after the Evening Sermon was ended brought a Pair of Cudgels into the Street near to the Minister's House calling upon divers to play with him but they all refus'd at the length came one who took them up saying Though I never played in my Life yet I will play one bout now But shortly after as he was jesting with a Young Maid he took up a Birding-piece which was charged saying Have at thee and the Piece going off shot her in the Face whereof she immediately died for which Act he forfeited all his Goods and underwent the Trial of the Law These two I knew when I lived there Ibid. 14. At Woolston in the same County a Miller going forth on the Sabbath-day to a Wake when he came home at Night found his House Mill and all that he had burnt down to the Ground This I also saw saith Mr. Clark in his Mirror c. 115. 15. At Woolston in the same County many loose Persons kept a Whitson-Ale and had a Morris-dancing on the Sabbath-day in a Smith's Barn to the great Grief of the Godly Minister who laboured all that he could to restrain it But it pleas'd God that shortly after a Fire kindled in that Smith's Shop which burnt it down together with his House and Barn and raging furiously going sometimes with and sometimes against the Wind it burnt down many other Houses most of which were prime Actors in that profanation of the Lord's-day I my self knew these Four last Examples ibid. 16. In the County of Devon one Edward Ameridith a Gentleman having been pained in his Feet and being somewhat recovered one said unto him he was glad to see him so nimble Ameridith replied that he doubted not but to dance about the May-pole the next Lord-day but before he moved out of that place he was smitten with such feebleness of Heart and dizziness in his Head that desiring help to carry him to any House he died before the Lord's-day came ibid. 17. At Walton upon Thames in Surrey in a great Frost 1634. Three Young Men on the Lord's-day after they had been at Church in the Forenoon where the Minister press'd the Words of his Text out of 2 Cor. 5.10 That we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ c. they gave little heed thereto but whisper'd all the while as they sate went in the Afternoon together over the Thames upon the Ice unto a House of Disorder and Gaming where they spent the rest of the Lord's-Day and part of the Night also in revelling One of them in a Tavern merrily discours'd the next day of his Sabbaths Acts and Voyage over the Ice but on Thursday next after these Three returning homewards and attempting to pass again over the Ice they all sunk down to the bottom as Stones whereof only one of them was miraculously preserved but the other two were drowned These Four last are attested by good Hands ibid. Mr. Fauconer Minister of Burford near Salisbury in his Book intituled The burden of England Scotland and Ireland and stiles himself Ed. de claro vado Printed for Thomas Slater and to be sold at his Shop in Duâ—â— Lane at the Sign of the Angel relateth a fearful Example of God's Justice about the year 1635. p. 1â—4 which was this 18. A Prophane company of Young men on the Lord's-day early in the Morning went to Claringdon Park to cut down a May-Pole and having loaden the Cart with it at Milner's Bars entring into the City of Salisbury one of the Cart wheels fell into a Rut which made the young Tree in the Cart which they had stoln for a May-Pole to give a great Surge on one side which struck one of the Company such a blow on the Head that it beat out his Brains so that he presently died in the place and lay there a
That if your Father had not asked you to go you would have done it and this you did the Thursday and Saturday before the foul Fact Hundreds more you know there are as your perpetual running to Lingsted against my Mind and staying out till Ten or Twelve at Night and this you would do three or four times every Week making me wait those late Hours for you both for Supper and Bed And when I told you of the Danger of riding so late the Amends that followed was that the next Day you would do the same again or worse c. And again For Money to spend you had always equal with your Brother and as much as I thought you could any ways need or desire you never asked any Summ that ever was denied you you knew where my Spunding-Money was and went to it and took what you pleased and I never checked you for it Ten Pounds I offered you at a time and that lately and you would have none of it you had Money enough you said And so you had to your great Hurt c. Oh Freeman thou knowest thy Father loved thee but too well and that he could deny thee nothing From thy Cradle to his Day I know not that I ever struck thee saving that once when through thy unsufferable Sauciness I pulled off thy Hat and gave thee a little pat on the Head But what good did it You presently took it up and put it on again cocking it and in scorn sate in your Chair by me in a discontented posture and so continued for four or five Hours not speaking one Word c. See the Printed Narrative by it self or Mr. Clark 's Abbreviation of it 2. A certain Woman in Flanders contrary to the Will of her Husband used to supply her two Sons with Money to maintain their Riot yea to furnish them she would rob her Husband But presently after her Husband's Death God plagued her for this her foolish Indulgence for from Rioting these Youngsters fell to Robbing for the which one of them was execured by the Sword and the other by the Halter the Mother looking on as a Witness of their Destruction Lud. Vives 3. A Young Man in our own Nation as he was going to the Gallows desired to speak with his Mother in her Ear but when she came instead of whispering he bit off her Ear with his Teeth exclaiming upon her as the cause of his Death because she did not chastise him in his Youth for his faults but by her fondness so emboldened him in his Vices as brought him to this woful end Lucretius the Roman was served by his Son in the same manner who having been often redeemed from the Cross by his Father at last at the Cross bit off his Father's Nose 4. Austine upon a terrible and dreadful Accident called his People together to a Sermon wherein he relates this doleful Story Our Noble Citizen saith he Cyrillus a Man mighty amongst us both in work and word and much beloved had as you know one only Son and because but one he loved him immeasurably and above God And so being drunk with immoderate doting he neglected to Correct him and gave him Liberty to do whatsoever he lift Now this very day says he this same Fellow thus long suffered in his dissolute and riotous courses hath in his drunken Humour wickedly offered Violence to his Mother great with Child would have violated his Sister hath killed his Father and wounded two of his Sisters to Death Ad frat in Eremo Ser. 33. if he was the Author of that Treatise CHAP. CXXII Divine Judgments upon Gluttony SOlomon requires us to put a Knife to our Throat when we are at such Tables where Dainties are set before us if we be Persons given to Appetite And our Saviour hath forbid us the surfeiting of our selves And 't is certain Gluttony is a fault that not only hath a Natural tendency to the desTruction of our Health the obating of our Estates and the enfeebling of our Spirits but provokes the Indignation of Heaven As we may see in the sin of Sodom which was Pride and fulness of Bread and Idleness in the case of Job 's Sons and the Feast of Belshazzar and the Examples following 1. One Albidinus a Young Man of a most debauch'd course of Life when he had consumed all his Lands Goods and Jewels and exhausted all his Estate even to one House he with his own hands set that on fire and despairing of any future Fortune left the City and betaking himself to the Solitude of the Woods and Groves he in a short space after hanged himself Dr. Thomas Taylor C. 7. N. 100. 2. Lucullus a Noble Roman in his Praetorship governed Africk two several times he moreover overthrew and defeated the whole Forces of King Mithridates and rescued his Colleague Cotta who was besieged in Chalcedon and was very Fortunate in all his Expeditions but after his Greatness growing an Eye-sore to the Common-weal he retired himself from all Publick Offices or Employments to his own Private Fields where he builded Sumptuously sparing for no Charge to compass any variety that could be heard of and had in his House he made a very rich Library and plentifully furnished with Books of all sorts And when he had in all things accommodated his House suiting with his own wishes and desires forgetting all Martial Discipline before exercised he wholly betook himself to Riotous Comessations and Gluttonous Feasts having gotten so much Spoil and Treasure in the Wars that it was the greatest part of his study how profusely to spend it in Peace Pompey and Cicero one Night stealing upon him with a self-invitation to Supper he caused on the sudden a Feast to be made ready the cost whereof amounted to Fifty Thousand Pieces of Silver the state of the Place the plenty of Meat and change and variety of Dishes the costly Sauces the fineness and neatness of the Services driving the Guests into extraordinary Admiration Briefly having given himself wholly to a Sensual Life his high feeding and deep quaffing brought him to such a Weakness that he grew Apoplectick in all his Senses and as one insufficient to govern either himself or his Estate he was committed to the keeping of M. Lucullus his near Kinsman dying soon after Ibid. 3. Caesar the Son of Pope Alexander was one of those who much doted on his Belly and wholly devoted himelf to all kind of Intemperance who in daily Breakfasts Dinners Afternoon-sittings Suppers and new Banquets spent Five Hundred Crowns not reckoning Feasts and Extraordinary Inventions For Parasites Buffoons and Jesters he allowed Yearly Two Thousand Suits of Cloaths from his Wardrobe He maintained also a continual Army of Eight Thousand Soldiers about him and all this he exhausted from his Father's Coffers Ibid. 4. Demadas now being old and always a Glutton is like a spent Sacrifice nothing is left but his Belly and his Tongue all the Man besides is
it is my Happiness to have this little Invisible Acquaintance with you I shall omit no Opportunity of troubling you with such poor Thoughts as the Lord shall give unto me of the best Things humbly wishing as for the making up the sad Differences of Religion among us the Lord would give those in Authority to weigh thatPious and Wise Discourse you have proposed as to those four great Parties in the Dedication of your Saints Rest with my unfeigned Prayers for your Health and Happiness Hist Discourse of Apparitions c. 12. March 2. 1678. At Poins-town in the County of Tepperary in Ireland were seen divers strange and prodigious Apparitions whereof take the Account as follows On Sunday in the Evening several Gentlemen and others after named walked forth in the Fields and the Sun going down and appearing somewhat bigger than ordinary they discoursed about it directing their Eyes toward the Place where the Sun fat when one of the Company observed in the Air near the place where the Sun went down an Arm of a Blackish Blue Colour with a ruddy complection'd Hand at one end and at the other end a Cross Piece with a Ring fastned to the middle of it like one end of an Anchor which stood still a while and then made Northwards and so disappeared next there appeared at a great Distance in the Air from the same part of the Sky somethings like a Ship coming towards them and it came so near that they could distinctly perceive the Masts Sails Tacklings and Men she then seem'd to tack about and sail'd with the Stern foremost Northwards upon a dark smooth Sea which stretched it self from South-west to North-west having seem'd thus to sail some few Minutes she sunk by degrees into the Sea her Stern first and as she sunk they perceived her Men plainly running up the Tacklings in the forepart of the Ship as it were to save themselves from drowning Then appear'd a Fort with somewhat like a Castle on the Top of it out of the sides of which by reason of some Clouds of Smoak and a flash of Fire suddenly issuing out they concluded some Shot to be made The Fort then immediately was divided in two Parts which were in an instant transformed into two exact Ships like the other they had seen with their Heads towards each other That towards the South seem'd to chase the other with its Stem foremost Northwards till it sunk with its Stem first as the first Ship had done the other Ship sail'd some time after and then sunk with its Head first It was observ'd That Men were running upon the Decks of these two Ships but they did not see them climb up as in the last Ship excepting one Man whom they saw distinctly to get up with much Haste upon the very top of the Bowsprit of the second Ship as they were sinking They supposed the two last Ships were engaged and sighting for they saw the likeness of Bullets rowling upon the Sea while they were both visible Then there appear'd a Chariot drawn with two Horses which turn'd as the Ships had done Northward and immediately after it came a strange frightful Creature which they concluded to be some kind of Serpent having a Head like a Snake and a knotted Bunch or Bulk at the other end something resembling a Snail 's House This Monster came swiftly behind the Chariot and gave it a sudden violent Blow then out of the Chariot leaped a Bull and a Dog which followed him and seem'd to bait him These also went Northwards as the former had done the Bull first holding his Head downwards then the Dog and then the Chariot till all sunk down one after another about the same place and just in the same manner as the former These Meteors being vanished there were several Appearances like Ships and other things The whole time of the Vision lasted near an Hour and it was a very clear and calm Evening no Cloud seen no Mist nor any Wind stiring All the Phoenomena came out of the West or South-west and all moved Northwards they all sunk out of Sight much about the same place Of the whole Company there was not any one but saw all these things as above-written whose Names follow Mr. Allye a Minister living near the place Lieutenant Dunslervile and his Son Mr. Grace his Son-in Law Lieutenant Dwine Mr. Dwine his Brother Mr. Christopher Hewelson Mr. Richard Foster Mr. Adam Hewelson Mr. Bates a School-master Mr. Larkin Mrs. Dunslervile Her Daughter-in-Law Her Maiden Daughter Mr. Dwine's Daughter Mrs. Grace her Daughter 13. Ostenta or Portents Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey Esq How it comes to pass I know not but by Ancient and modern Example it is evident that no great â—ccident befalls a City or Province but it is presaged by Divination or Prodigy 14. There was a strange Phenomenon seen at Broad-Chalk in Wiltshire on the First Day of May 1647. It continued from about Eleven a Clock or before till Twelve It was a very clear Day but few did take notice of it because it was so near the Sun-Beams My Mother happened to espy it going to see what a Clock it was by an Horizontal Dial and then all the Servants saw it Upon the like occasion Mr. Jo. Sloper B.D. Vicar there saw it and all his Family and the Servants of Sir George Vaugham then Fellow of Falston who were Hunting on the Downes saw it The next remarkable thing that follow'd was that on the Third of June following Cornet Joyce carried King Charles I. Prisoner from Holdenby to the Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight lieth directly from Broad-Chalk at the X a Clock Point 15. There was seen at Bishops Lamington in Wiltshire in Sept. 1688. Two Balls of Light They were about Eleven Degrees above the Horizon by the Quadrant observed by Mr. Robert Blea one of the Earl of Abingdon's Gentlemen CHAP. VIII Discovery of Things Secret or Future by Dreams and Visions I Would not be so Superstitious or Phanatic as to lay a Stress upon all Dreams as if they were significative is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor so Prophane as to range all under the Notion of meer Natural or Fortuitous The Dreams of Joseph Pharoah Nebuchadnezzar Joseph in the New-Testament Pilate's Wife c. had certainly something of Divinity in them and may be reasonably supposed to be infused by good Angels But are those all Were men to see Visions and dream Dreams no longer when life and Immortality were brought to light thro' the Gospel Let these instances which follow be well weighed and let the Judicious Reader judge as he please 1. Polycarp having been at Prayer three Days before his Apprehension and afterwards fallen asleep he saw in a Vision by Night the Pillow under his Head set on fire and suddenly consumed to Ashes which when he awaked he interpreted it to be meant of his martyrdom Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 2. Ireneus in his 2d Book
Qualities upon any but as Dispositions to Eternal Glory and a Token of special Love and everlasting Favour I shall therefore in the next place proceed to enquire after a few Remarkable Instances of this Nature and first of all of Faith that Grace that is so mightily commended under the Oeconomy of the New Testament 1. Luther was a Man of great Faith and Resolution as appears by these Passages in his Sermons Sir Devil I gear not thy Threatenings and Terrors for there is one whose Name is Jesus Christ in whom I believe He hath abolished the Law condemned Sin vanquished Death and destroyed Hell And again Good Mrs. Death Dost thou know this Man Christ Come and bite out his Tooth Hast thou forgotten how little thy Biting prevailed with him once Faith kills Reason that Beast and Monster that all the World cannot kill and Laughs at all the Iniquiry Rage and Fury of the World c. 2. Arch-Bishop Vsher though he fore-told in the time of his greatest Prosperity that he should die in Poverty yet made little Provision for the Storm and though his Losses in Ireland upon the turn of the Times were great and his Straits in England very considerable yet when two several Offers were made him from Foreign Nations the one from Cardinal Richlieu in relation to his great Learning with a promise of large Maintenance and Liberty to live where he listed in France among the Protestants the other from the States of Holland who proffered him the Place of Honorarius Professor at Leyden which had an ample Stipend belonging to it yet he refused both and chose rather to put himself upon Divine Providence in his own Countrey Clâ—rk in his Life 3. Mr. Heron on his Death-bed being minded of his young Children whom he had made but slender Provision for made this Answer which my Author saith was Censured for too light by some Persons That he did not fear but He that fed the young Ravens when they cried unto him would likewise take care of and provide for the young Herons Dr. Fuller in his Meditations 4. Mr. Lancaster being by Birth a good Gentleman and sometime Fellow in King's College in Cambridge he was but little of Stature but eminent as for other things especially for his living by Faith His Charge being great and his Means so small his Wife would many times come to him when she was to send her Maid to Banbury Market to buy Provision and tell him that she had no Money his usual Answer was Yet send your Maid and God will provide and though she had no Money yet she never returned empty for one or other that knew her to be Mr. Lancaster's Maid either by the way or in Banbury Town meeting her would give her Money which still supplied their present wants Mr. Clark in the Life of Dr. Harris 5. Mr. Edw. Lawrence formerly Minister of Basckarth in Shropshire but refusing to comply with the Act of Vniformity and thereupon being in danger of being turned out of his Living being ask'd How he would maintain his VVife and so many small Children as he had Made Answer I intend to live and maintain my Family upon the Fifth Chapter of Saint Matthew CHAP. XXVIII Remarkable Courage and Boldness FEar not thou them saith our Saviour that can destroy the Body and after that have nothing that they can do c. certainly a good Christian Courage in a good Cause and under the Conduct of an humble Prudence is the Gift of God and Blessing of Heaven and one of those Graces that bespeak the person endowed therewith to be somewhat more than common Man Our dear Saviour was taken notice of for one that Preach'd with Authority and the Apostles with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a liberty of Speech and boldness of Spirit which their Adversaries were not able to resist And sometimes we may pick up such Examples of boldness in succeeding Ages of the Church as these that follow 1. Ignatius being required to be present at the Gratulatory Sacrifices appointed by Trajan after the Parthian War which were to be offered in every City before Trajan's Face did justly and sharply reprove the Idolatry for which cause he was delivered to ten Soldiers to be carried to Rome Clark's Mar. of Eccl. Hist 2. Polycarp would not flie when in danger of Persecution and Martyrdom saying The will of the Lord be done and coming to the Searchers he communed with them very chearfully and commanded that the Table should be spread for them intreating them to eat and dine well requesting but one Hours space for his Prayers which was granted him Ibid. 3. Origen was in his early Years desirous of Martyrdom and would have thrusted himself into the Persecutors Hands had not his Mother in the Night time privily convey'd away his Cloathes on purpose to restrain him and when he could do no more he stoutly Exhorted his Father then â—â—â—â—rison by Letters that he would not alter his purpose of Suffering for his Son's sake Dr. Cave Prim. Christ Clark Marrow of Eccl. Hist. c. 4. Valentinian Jun. compassing the Church where Ambrose was in a great rage with a great number of Armed Souldiers commanded him to come forth but he nothing terrified answered That I will never willingly do neither will I betray the Sheepfold of my Sheep to the Wolves nor deliver up the Temple of God to the Authors of Blasphemy but if thou pleasest to kill me here 's my Breast peirce it as thou pleasest with Spear or Sword I am willing to embrace such a Death Upon which resolute Answer the Emperor with-drew ibid. 5. Luther's Courage and Boldness is well known when disswaded from going to Dispute at Worms for fear of his Enemies If I thought saith he there were danger of our Cause I would go tho' there were as many Devils in Worms as Tiles upon the Houses And another time to his Friends quaking for fear of future troubles Come saith he let 's sing the 46th Psalm and let all the Devils in Hell do their worst Pref. to his Sermons 6. John Frith to certain Messengers sent by the Arch-Bishop to bring him before him and they disswading Frith from stiffness in his Opinion about the Sacrament made answer I most heartily thank you for your Good-will and Councel whereby I see your Good-will to me yet my Cause and Conscience is such that in no wise I may or can without danger of Damnation start aside and fly from the Truth whereof I am convinced and which I have Published concerning the Lord's Supper so that if I be askt what my Judgment is about it I must needs declare my Judgment and Conscience therein as I have formerly written tho' I was sure to lose Twenty Lives if I had so many Clarks Eccl. Hist p. 158. 7. King Arthur to increase the Courage of his Soldiers Instituted the Order of Knights of the Round Table that he might reward the well deserving with Titles of Honour None
other Christians met tegether to pray for her when on a sudden after a terrible Conflict which so much amazed some that they cried out with a confused Noise Jesus help Jesus save the Maid started up out of a wicked Chair wherein she sate and by main Strength lifted up one of the Ministers with her who kneeled behind and held her in his Arms and threw white Froth out of her Throat and Mouth round about the Chamber and on a sudden fell down into the Chair as one really dead with her Head hanging on one side her Neck and Arms limber though before as stiff as if Frozen presently after Life returned into her whole Body and her Eyes and Tongue came into their right place she then looked up with a chearful Countenance round the Chamber and with a loud Voice spoke saying O he is come he is come the Comforter is come the Comforter is come I am delivered I am delivered her Father hearing these Words wept for Joy and with a faultring Vocie said O these were her Grandfather's Words who suffered in Queen Mary 's Days She then kneeled down and gave humble and hearty Thanks and Praise to God for her Deliverance which she continued to do till her Voice grew weak and the Minister desired her to forbear and so they ended the Day with Thanksgiving After which she was committed to the Care of the Minister who writ this Relation least Satan should again assault her His name was Mr. Lewis Haughs then Minister of St. Helens London from whence this Narrative was taken and who doth not mention what became of the Witch nor that the Maid was any more afflicted in this kind History of Demons c. p. 20. What follows is extracted from Mr. Aubrey 's Miscellanies 10. Hugo Grotius in his Annotations on Jonah speaking of Nineve says That History hath divers Examples that after a great and hearty Humiliation God delivered Citys c. from their Calamities Some did observe in the late Civil Wars that the Parliament after a Humiliation did shortly obtain a Victory And as a three-fold Cord is not easily broken so when a whole Nation shall conjoyn in fervent Prayer and Supplication it shall produce wonderful Effects William Lawd Arch-bishop of Canterbury in a Sermon preached before the Parliament about the beginning of the Reign of Kng Charles I. affirms the Power of Prayer to be so great That though there be a Conjunction or Opposition of Saturn or Mars as there was one of them then it will overcome the Malignity of it In the Life of Vâ—vasor Powel is a memorable Account of the Effect of fervent Prayer after an exceeding Drought And Mr. Baxter in his Book afore-mentioned hath several Instances of that kind which see St. Michael and all Angels The Collect. O everlasting God who hast Ordered and Constituted the Services of Men and Angels after a wonderful manner Mercifully grant that as the Holy Angels alway do thy Service in heaven So by thy Appointment they may succour and defend us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Thus far Mr. Aubrey 11. Mr. Tho. Spatchet late of Dunwich and Cookley was under extraordinary Fits occasion'd by Witchcraft and was by the gracious Effects of fervent Prayer delivered out of them as we are assur'd by the Narrative thereof drawn up by the Reverend Mr. Samuel Petto Minister at Sudbury in Suffolk who was an Eye-witness This Account was Printed for John Harris at the Harrow in Little Britain in June 1693. 12. Mr. John Janeway as his Brother writes was mighty in Prayer and his Spirit was oftentimes so transported in it that he forgot the weakness of his own Body and of others Spirits Indeed the Acquaintance that he had with God was so sweet and his Converse with him so frequent that when he was engaged in Duty he scarce knew how to leave that which was so delightful and suited to his Spirit His constant Course for some Years was this He Prayed at least three times a day in secret sometimes seven times twice a day in the Family or College He was used to converse with God with a holy Familiarity as a Friend and would upon all occasions run to him for advice and had many strange and immediate Answers of Prayer one of which I think it not altogether impertinent to give the World an Account of His honoured Father Mr. William Janeway Minister of Kelshal in Hartford-shire being sick and being under somewhat dark Apprehensions as to the state of his Soul he would often say to his Son John Oh Son this passing upon Eternity is a great thing this Dying is a solemn business and enough to make any ones Heart ake that hath not his Pardon sealed and his Evidences for heaven clear And truly Son I am under no small Fears as to my own Estate for another World Oh that God would clear his Love Oh that I could say chearfully I can die His sweet and dutiful Son made a suitable Reply at present but seeing his dear Father continuing under despondings of Spirit he got by himself and spent some time in wresting with God upon his Father's account After he was risen from his Knees he came down to his sick Father and asked him how he felt himself his Father made no Answer for some time but wept exceedingly and continued for some considerable time in extraordinary Passion of Weeping so that he was not able to speak But at last having recovered himself with unspeakable joy he burst out into such Expressions as these Oh Son now it is come it is come it is come I bless God I can die I know now what that white Stone is wherein a new Name is written which none know but they which have it And that Fit of Weeping which you saw me in was a Fit of overpowring Love and Joy so great that I could not for my heart contain my self neither can I express what glorious Discoveries God hath made of himself unto me And had that Joy been greater I question whether I could have born it and whether it would not have separated Soul and Body You may well think that his Son's Heart was not a little refreshed to hear such Words and see such a Sight and to meet the Messenger that he had sent to Heaven returned back again so speedily He counted himself a sharer with his Father in this Mercy and it was upon a double account welcome as it did so wonderfully satisfie his Father and as it was so immediate and clear an Answer of his own Prayers as if God had from Heaven said unto him Thy Tears and Prayers are heard for thy Father Upon this this precious young Man broke forth into Praises and even into another Extasie of Joy that God should deal so familiarly with him and the Father and Son together were so full of Joy Light Life Love and Praise that there was a little Heaven in the place See his Life 13. Speed in his
and at last sacrificed his Right Hand for but tampering a little this way 'T is ill jesting with God and our own Consciences who will neither of them be mocked 17. Berengarius tried this and therefore though he retracted his Doctrine against Transubstantiation he relapsed again and retracted and relapsed again or rather returned and repented finding no Peace for his Conscience whilst he had not Truth in his Possesston CHAP. CXLI Great Effects wrought by weak means IT is pleasant to observe how God delights to shew his Power by using weak and contemptible Instruments and to werk â—â—eat Effects by little secondary Causes to make a World by speaking a Word or two to punish and subdue a slout-hearted Pharaoh with Frogs and Lice and Locusts and Darkness to baffle a Giant-like People in Canaan with a handful of Men to make the Walls of Jericho fall down and the Peoples Hearts quail with only a Shout and the Noise of Rams Horns to overthrow the two great Religions of the World Judaisin and Pagan Idolatry with the Foolishness of Preaching and the Piety and Patience of Confessors and Martyrs to turn Sinners Thoughts into a Case of Knives or a Nest of Wasps or Serpents to sting and torment them with 1. The Duke of Arcos Viceroy of Naples under the King of Spain having imposed many Gabels or Taxes both vendible and eatable at last imposed a Gabel upon Fruit also which more irritated and offended that Multitude than all the former Whereupon by the publick Cries and Lamentations of Men and Women they daily solicited the Viceroy as he passed through the Market-place to ease them of the said Burthen they used also the Mediation of others and not prevailing they were ready to raise a Mutiny Which so affrighted the Viceroy that he promised quite to take off the said Gabel but delaying to do it some of the enraged People one Night but fire to some Powder in the Market-place where the said Gabel was exacted and blew it up There were also from Day to Day bitter Invectives and fiery Protests against the publick Officers fixed up in sundry Places of the City The Viceroy being alarmed thereby often assembled the six Precincts of the City to consult about this Business But they were divided some perswading him to ease and please the People others advising him to Repair the Toll-house that was burnt down and continue the Gabel saying That they were but a few Tatterdemallions that had made that Noise Besides divers of the great Men and Merchants of the City had advanced upon the said Gabel above 600000 Crowns and were to pay 85000 Crowns of annual Rent This was noised abroad and the Report went That if this Tax was taken off there would be a new one set upon â—orn and Wine Whereupon the enraged People protested That they would never endure the same and whilst these Discontents were hot July 17. 1647. this Occasion suddenly presented it self A young Man of about 24 Years old being spritely pleasant and of a middle stature in Linen-Slops Blew Wastcoat and bare-foot with a Mariner's Cap on his Head happened to be in the Market-place His Profession was to angle for little Fishes as also to buy Fish and carry them about to sell He was vulgarly called Massianello and being naturally Crafty he observed the general Murmurings of the People and so went up and down to the Fruiterers Shops and advised them That meeting together the next Day in the Market-place they should tell the Country Fruiterers That they would buy no more gabelled Fruit. Upon this he listed many Boys under him to the number of Two Thousand giving every one of them a little Cane in their Hand Against a great Festival that was approaching a Feast that used to be made by the Boys and meaner fort of People in the Market-place he gathered to the number of Fifty Thousand Upon this Success the number of People encreased exclaiming aloud against their Oppressions protesting to pay no more Gabel crying out Let the King of Spain live and let the ill Government die Massianello being thus attended with his Boys and an infinite Company of loose People who were now armed with Pikes and Partizans he leaped up on a Table and with a loud Voice cried Be merry my dear Companions and give God Thanks that the Hour of your Redemption draws near This poor bare-footed Fellow as another Moses who freed the Israelites from Pharaoh's Rod shall redeem you from all Gabâ—ls Peter a Fisherman redeemed with his Voice Rome and with it all the World from Satan's Slavery to the Liberty of Christ Now another Fisher-man which is Massianello shall release Naples and with it a whole Kingdom from the Tyranny of Gabels c. Nor to effect this do I care a Rush to be torn in pieces and to be dragged up and down the Gutters of Naples let all the Blood in my Body spin out of these Veins let my Head skip from my Shoulders by a fatal Steel and be pearched in this Market-place on a Pole yet I shall die contentedly and gloriously It will be Honour enough to me to think that my Blood and Life perish in so glorious a Cause In short he afterwards brought the Viceroy to an Agreement but after some time falling into a Frensie by either Excess of Wine or Watching and Cares died See more in the printed Narrative or Clark 's Examples 2. The Inhabitants of Myons a City of Jonia were so pester'd with Gnats which were bred in a muddy Pond near them that they were constrain'd thereupon to leave the City and fly to Milerum This I read many Years ago when a Student in the University but took no care then to Record my Author 3. Luther by his Preaching and Disputing baffled the Arguments Arts and Power of two very potent Enemies the Pope and Emperor and procured a happy Reformation in the Church 4. Francis Spira was punished in this World for his Apostacy with the keen Reflections of a guilty Conscience and many others besides Our own Thoughts may be sufficient to make a Hell of 5. Some have been convicted of Murder by the Barking of a Dog the Flight of Birds the Shaking of Leaves Anacreon was choaked with a Grape-stone Adrian with a Gnat others with the Excrements of Birds flying over their Heads An Acquaintance of mine dislocated her Thigh-bone with only turning a Custard at the Fire and died upon it 7. This very Year a Woman near Hanmer going over a Hedge was hung to Death with her Head-string catching accidentally in the Sticks as was related to me by Mr. Henry of Broad-oak in Flintshire CHAP. CXLII Remarkable Passages relating to Sickness Death and Funerals WHat was long since decreed in Heaven God hath sent Warrants to execute on Earth Semel mori For us once to die Then be acquainted with Death betimes for through acquaintance Death will lose his Horror like unto an ill Face though it be as formidable as a
that unhappy Accident which threatned the putting a Stop to it for I ever esteemed Platonick-Love to be the most Noble and thought it might be allowed by all but some wise Persons are afraid least the Sex should creep in for a share Here was no Danger for tho' Nature and Art have done their utmost to make Cl s Charming to all her Wit c. being beyond most of her Sex yet P t having for many Years given such Testimonies of a Conjugal Affection even to excess if such a thing can be that I fanned their Friendship might have been honourably continued to the End of Time I hope what Difficulties they meet with at their first setting out will heighten their Friendship and make it more strong and lasting So wishes August 27. 1695. Your Humble Servant E This Letter was occasioned by a Misconstruction put on the Correspondence then carried on 'tween P t and the aforesaid Lady but E being universally Religious by consequence is universally Charitable and therefore as she knew no Harm thinks none but encourages the Correspondence Mr. Richard Mays was a Man of sincere Godliness A (r) Mr. Singleton worthy Person sufficiently known in this City for his great Skill and Pains in training up of Youth was the Happy Instrument which Providence made use of for the first awakening and enclining him to look out after God I have often heard him speak with great thankfulness both to God and him of that Mixture of Love and Prudence whereby he gained upon him Throughout the Whole of his Sickness of Six Weeks continuance all was clear between God and him 2 Sam. 23.4 His End was like the Light of the Evening when the Sun setteth an Evening without any Clouds He said to my self when I enquired of him concerning that Matter I have not indeed those Raptures of Joy which some have felt tho' yet he added blessed be God I have sometimes tasted of them too but I have a comfortable well-grounded Hope of Eternal Life Another time I have had my Infirmities and Failings but my Heart hath been right with God as to the main and I look for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to Eternal Life Again another time I know that I have passed from Death to Life And again Blessed be God for our Lord Jesus Christ who hath delivered me from the Wrath to come In the Presence of others that stood by him when the sudden Blast was so strong as almost to puff out the Lamp of Life expecting to die in a very few Moments he said in the Words of the Psalmist Into thy Hands I commit my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth and this was uttered by him with a more than ordinary Chearfulness visibly spread on his Face He would often say in his Sickness If God hath any Pleasure in me and any more Work for me to do he will raise me up but if not lo here am I let him do with his Servant what seemeth him good In short I could neither observe my self nor learn from those that were constantly about him who must know this Matter better than any others and would not Lye for God himself that he had the least Darkness upon his Spirit as to his present and future State from the beginning of his Sickness till he gave up the Ghost which he did the last Lord's-Day about Five in the Morning the time when he was wont to arise and prepare himself for his Sacred Work Mr. Nathaniel Taylor in his Sermon at Mr. Mayo 's Funeral Dr. Samuel Annesley was reconciled to Death yea so desirous of it as hardly induced him to have his Life prayed for But hearing some Ministers had been fervently praying for his Life he replied I 'm then more reconciled to Life than ever for I 'm confident God will not give a Life so eminently in answer of Prayer as mine must be if he would not use it to greater purposes than ever before Yet some little time before his Change his Desires of Death appear'd strong and his Soul filled with the fore-tasts of Glory oft saying Come my dearest Jesus the nearer the more precious the more welcome Another time his Joy was so great that in an Ecstasie he cried out I cannot contain it What manner of Love is this to a poor Worm I can't express the thousandth part of what Praise is due to thee We know not what we do when we offer at praising God for his Mercies It 's but little I can give but Lord help me to give thee my All. I 'll die praising thee and rejoyce that there 's others can praise thee better I shall be satisfied with thy likeness satisfied satisfied Oh my dearest Jesus I come See a larger Account in Dr. Annesley's Funeral Sermon preach'd by Mr. Daniel Williams The Death of Old Mr. Eliot of New-England While he was making his Retreat out of this Evil World his Discourses from time to time ran upon The Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ It was the Theme which he still had recourse unto and we were sure to have something of this whatever other Subject he were upon On this he talk'd of this he pray'd for this he long'd and especially when any bad News arriv'd his usual Reflection thereon would be Behold some of the Clouds in which we must look for the Coming of the Son of Man At last his Lord for whom he had been long wishing Lord come I have been a great while ready for thy Coming At last I say his Lord came and fetched him away into the Joy of his Lord. He fell into some Languishments attended with a Fever which in a few Days brought him into the Pangs may I say or Joys of Death And while he lay in these Mr. Walter coming to him he said unto him Brother Thou art welcome to my very Soul Pray retire to my Study for me and give me leave to be gone meaning that he should not by Petitions to Heaven for his Life detain him here It was in these Languishments that speaking about the Work of the Gospel among the Indians he did after this Heavenly manner express himself There is a Cloud said he a dark Cloud upon the Work of the Gospel among the poor Indians The Lord revive and prâ—â—â—er that Work and grant it may live when I am dead It is a Work which I have been doing much and long about But what was the Word I spoke last I recall that Word My Doings Alas they have been poor and small and lean Doings and I 'll be the Man that shall throw the first Stone at them all Mr. Cotton Mather tells us of Mr. Elias That the Last of his ever setting Pen to Paper in the World was upon this Occasion I shall transcribe a short Letter which was written by the shaking Hand that had heretofore by Writing deserved so well from the Church of God but was now taking its leave of Writing for