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 Bring him forth that all the people may stone him In that black and forlorne band of sinners 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 marg 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 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 and 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 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 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 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 â—wearing being on his death-bed 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 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 Drunkennesse Solons Law was death to a Prince that was drunk In Carthage Lacedemon and Creet this sin was so abominable that all which were found guilty of it were thrust out of the Senate and dismantled of all manner of liberty to bear any office in their Cities What zeal was here in Heathens against this odious sin And this may not unfitly be accounted as the reason why a woman reflected upon King Philips unrighteous sentence of Judgement by desiring to have her cause removed from Drunken Philip to King Philip Sober and it may be this sin of his was the cause of his death which by a Lacedemonian Gentleman was executed by a thrust in his body because he refused to do Justice We read of Lewis King of France upon reading Psal. 106.3 Blessed are they that keep judgement and he that doth righteousnesse at all times was so wrought upon that he presently said He that doth not punish sin is the patron of it These sins I speak of are grown now so bold by impunity as if Justice were afraid to look them in the face like the Snake in the Fable rise up against the greatest and most noble Ingenuity possible Its severity must subdue them When true zeal bends the bow and draws the arrow of Justice to the head then it strikes sin to the heart it flyes home to the life of the Law and death of the offence A Modern example we have of an Irish Lord who lodged at West-Kirby waiting for his passage and being a prodigious Swearer the Officers serve a warrant upon him at which he rages with Curses and Oathes but they seize upon his horses and forced him to pay 20 pound to the use of the poor of the Parish and all the while he stayed there his tongue was held as with a bit and bridle This is the true effect of Justice which looks not asquint upon any man like Aristides who without an eye of favour to father or friend or malice to his enemies distributed alike to all so that he purchased the deserved name of Aristides the Just In the Areopagite Judicature they onely heard the Cause and never saw the persons giving judgement in the night that all might have equall Justice I cannot omit the example of one * Mr. Jourdain of whom it might be said as of David That the zeal of Gods house had eaten him up for when the Book of Sports came forth he sent an expostulatory Letter to the King inclosed to the Bishop of Exceter who carefully conveyed it to his Majesty who reading said in a rage He should be hanged that wrote it The Bishop fell on his knees and begged pardon saying That God had not a better servant nor his Majesty a better subject The Bishop after being visited by Mr. Jourdain said Ah! Mr. Jourdain would you put me upon so hot service knowing how many eyes * are upon me who replied Yea my Lord the eyes of God and his holy Angels are upon you to see how you discharge your office and duty By his justice upon Swearers he brought such an awe and dread upon men adicted to that sin that many Citizens observed that in places of Publick resort they heard not an oath sworn for many years together I le end with one pretty passage recorded of King James who being upon Removal to Theobalds his Majesties Carriages went out of the City upon the Lords Day which the Lord Mayor hearing of commanded them to be stopt which affront was represented to the King with as great asperity as men in Authority crossed in their humours could expresse The King swears He thought there had been no more Kings in England but himself but when it may be he thought there was a King in Heaven he sent a warrant to the Lord Mayor whom with these words he obeyed While it was in my power I did my duty but being taken away by a higher power it is my duty to obey which afterward it 's said the King took well and thanked him for But least I be taken for one transported with an over-heaâ— of Zeal without a regular and proportioned mixture of Knowledge give me liberty to clear my self and leavâ— my thoughts behind me thâ—â— I may not be found guilâ— of that asperse which some men pressed with a fiery zeal vented more in passion than discretion which fixes a scandal to Justice more than it promotes Gods Honour or Reformation of men were to consult with the prudent part of our duties mannaging punishment to such as are drawn aside by temptation c. with reproof and that secretly But to incorrigible transgressors such as are so accustomed to do evil as if they professed debauched courses let the severity of the Law proceed for to such onely the Law strikes to such as will not be warned who can they blame but themselves if they smart And if I should here plead for respect to be had to persons it may by some be thought to be out of the way but however I am much for it and do account it no lesse than a Grand Master-piece of Prudence for if such as seem to lead others by their example be won from prophanesse the fruits cannot be bad If therefore there be any of the better ranke which digresse from the good orders of Government either of the Nation or themselves we are to use such with all the winning respect imaginable and if the Law be satisfied not to provoke their displeasure the Law aimes more at Reformation than punishment and to persons of Quality whose reputations in the beame of Honour weighs down the rate of their punishment we ought to deal with candid behaviour and to extend meeknesse and respect as far as the greatest Civility and favour of Law will reach Vpon this ground no Question was that prudent Piece of Administration of Justice performed by a chief Magistrate upon a Person of Quality not long ago by sending a Letter begging his excuse and hoping as â—e was a Gentleman he would not be angry at the Administration of Justice which was his honour demanding satisfaction which was due by Law for so many oathes which in such a place he had sworn The Gentleman with a High acknowledgment of civility freely submitted I would not be thought a favourer of debauchedness in any much less in the Gentry in whom if such viceâ— be set they have a bad foil Yeâ— I must needs say they oughâ— to have more allowance that common persons especially if they be ingenious as alas many that are most ingenious most often fall into the snarâ— of temptations A little liberty they expect more than others and as much as is not an affront to the Law let them have because its fit to win such by civility which the Law cannot by force do without a Rape upon their honours and reputations and one great reason is because many times inferiour persons are the inflictors of punishment
's more strictly visit him it's charity to visit the sick I take him to be no man God indeed made him one but that stamp and superscription of God set upon him to distinguish him from other creatures is so defaced that if all other of Gods creatures had done the like who could have traced in the search of the knowledge oâ— God in his creatures If then he be nâ— man he is no beast for in this sence they are sober content with the liberty of Natures choyce if neither Man nor Beast then sure God never made him his soul is drowned so nâ— man his sence is lost so no beast If we grant he have a rational being it is like those Idols mentioned that have eyes and see not eares and hear not neither do they perceive any thing the man is turned out of possession here lies the Cabinet the jewel's lost He is Antipode to all other creatures nay to God himself if you will have him a Beast he must be a beast of Prey whose belly is the very Sepulcher of Gods Creatures as if his life were but potestas vivendi ut velis Like him that mourned because his sences were not incorporated into that one of tasting which pleasure he wished had been spread over all his body whereby he might have ranged over all the sweets of nature with a prolonged delight Hannah gives the fittest name to him in her Answer to Eli Count not thine handmaid a daughter of BELIAL In a word he is a poor dead creature a Lazarus whom God in mercy raise to life again that out of this Chaos of insensible bestiality God would please to speak a word of power another Fiat even a voyce saying Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ will give thee light Let 's now see how much this sinne contributes to the breach of Natures Lawes and how much condemned and rooted out by Heathens Temperance and Sobriety those just Stewards are dismantled of their Authority whilst this sin with Schollars shut the door against their Master when they rebell it forces Nature to run the Gant-lope which without violence would best provide for her self if she could but spread her own table Go to the Crib you that are given up to Ebriety who cares for no more than what justly relieves the urgency of Nature I am too much afraid that it may justly be said of us as it was once of Philosophy That it was taught at Athens but practised in Sparta Temperance and sobriety is taught in England but practised in Turkie Alphonsus King of Aragon alwayes tempered his wine with water least it should flie above his understanding and betray his reason It was a Christian reply of Alcamen to his frugal reprovers saying That Gods blessings should prompt us to live up unto reason and moderation not of â—ust by turning Gods mercies to a wanton liberty of excesse The wicked man sayes Plutarch liveth to eat and drink but the good man eateth and drinketh to live And Salust said Nothing can be more abject and hurtful than to be a slave to thy mouth and belly Gorgius being demanded how he came to live in health to so great an Age Answered By forbearing to eat or drink through pleasure There is a breach of this temperance A power to drink to a greater excesse in measure and abuse of Gods creatures than many a weaker constitution can endure without being drunk with the fourth part of other's riot to drown and force Nature beyond her due proportion is a drunkennesse before God though thou beest never overtaken with the power of it to the sight of the Law If a Heathen could say It becomes not a King to extinguish that by excesse of drink which suports the name of an Emperour How much ought a Christian to value his profession at a higher rate How sweet and comely a thing is it for men to live soberly wisely and temperately by mixing our enjoyments with an equal proportion and measure of sobriety The opposite was that which stained the glory of Great Alexander The Lawes of Heathens and former Nations condemn our impunity and cheapnesse of this sin we do as it were sell drunkennesse for where forfeitures bite not above the pleasure of it men will be content to pay for it The Ancient Romans banished all Epicures out of their Cities accounting them the plagues of youth Romulus made a Law to punish drunkennesse in women with death Minos King of Creet suffered none to drink one to another unto drunkennesse without the censure of the Law Severer Lawes are not in the World against this sin than in Turkie A story whereof I remember of one that at a Festival time had been too liberal with his cups and being carried before the Grand Vizier had lead poured into his mouth and eares and so died not that one act needed such severity so much as to suppresse the growth and progresse of sin The Law rather intends Reformation than Punishment if the one might be without the other for Lex non Irascitur Let 's see the spiritual evils of this sin A Drunkard wounds his own soul his heart is like mare mortuum where no grace can live he drowns the voice of Nature and Conscience the two great lights which God sets up in every man He sells himself with Ahab to work wickednesse Tell him of God he replies as the Cyclops in the Tragedy to Vlysses I know no other God but my belly Or like that Monk mentioned who upon the news that all Abbies were voted down and yet his maintenance continued for life stroaked his belly with these words Modo hic sit bene his care was past so long as his camp was victualled with Solomons fool Come let 's drinks for to morrow we shall die but Remember Post mortem nulla voluptas Is it not a sad thing to see men drown body and soul together men may play with their eternal estates and dance about the flames and never see their danger till irrecoverable How many like Amnon die drunk carry their own condemnation with them That as Sir Gervise Elloway said His own hand which he took such a pride in appeared to his condemnation when nothing else could have wrought it and such judgements are heavy seeming as if the execution were alike intended against the soul as well as the body They spend their dayes in Mirth and suddenly they go down to Hell Job 31.13 What art thou guilty of that occasions this sin which is accompanied with so great tokens of Gods sore displeasure thou that in company forcest down drink or takest pleasure in thy sad profit by suffering them in thy house read the Prophet Wo to him that giveth his neighbour drink that putteth the bottle to him and maketh him drunken also It swells greater yet as its the fountain of other sins As Nero wished the people of Rome had but one neck that with one stroke
and Pillar of Honour I would onely beg leave to break my thoughts to the first of these and though to some this may seem boldnesse to be free yet considering that A good cause teacheth confidence I think in this case I should offend if I presumed not and I have taken care so to order my flight as not to soare above the Region of Duty and Civility Gentlemen I set before you three Grand Impieties viz Drunkenness Swearing and Sabbath-breaking sins that are opera tenebrarum It 's your work to look to them they are Rageing Reigning Polluting sins sins for which a Land mourns and the Nation puts on the Sable garments of sorrow and heavinesse these sins beget a controversie betwixt a people a place a person and God and who is able to abide his indignation for if once his wrath be but a little kindled blessed are all they that put their trust in him These therefore are sins that ought not to go unpunished and that without the strictest severity in a Christian common-wealth Magistrates are not to beare the Sword in vain if you do not quarrel with sin God will with you you are or should â—e the Banks of the Common-wealth to keep us from a Land-flood and Torrent of confusion you are the Hedâ—es to prophanesse The life of the Law is executions It s a principle in Moral Policy That not to execute the Lawes is worse than to break them Acts and Ordinances will not beat down prophanesse unlesse the first be throughly acted and the last set on fire by authority many take encouragement by the slack execution of Justice which otherwise might with care prove a hinderance not onely from sin but punishment nay it may be from Eternal flames I am much afraid that many are guilty of others sins more than they dream of by suffering their understandings to be darkened in the sense of their duties thorough the sight of their Honours not seriously weighing what trust God hath committed to them They cannot deny presentments but think it a work below them to search and find out debaucht houses or persons or examine who idlely stayes from the Word or take care in publick resorts to find out Blasphemers Cursers and Swearers and punish them in the Act. How sad would it be to us if we heard the sad cryes in Torment it may be some saying O that the Magistrate had hedged up my way with thorns had he set bounds to my drunken meetings cursed oathes and prophane Sabbath-breaking then had I not been now roaring in anguish under the fury of a Revengful God! The mild punishment of obstinate transgressors makes sin grown to an excrescency It festers a body Politick as well as Natural to have the wounds not thoroughly dressed it forces to a relapse where the causes are not diverted or rooted out Seeing Drunkennesse hath so great confidence as if Authority led it by the hand let me strike at the bowels of it that hath so many thousands crawling out of it Oh that we might see this sin reel with the Drunkard that there were a frequent visiting of Ale-houses and none suffered under the greatest engagements Not to suffer any to be drunk or drink to excesse and methinks as I travel these Northern parts especially about I had almost said in the Metropolis of these Counties it s scarce possible to passe without infection the streets are lined with these Pest-houses the greatest wonder is that they are under the roof of Authority and yet suffered to breath Oh down with disordered Ale-houses that â—rove the Hell and Damnation â—f many a poor soul where many poor wretches sit securely and there drown their families bread in Drunkennesse where many a person of respect buyes the ruin of his families honour together with his own at a vast expense One said If it were not for secret Drunkennesse they might bar up their doors Oh set a Baricaâ— do to the entrance of such impieties and villanies which flow hither as the humours to the stomack Banish these fire ships from the Coasts of â— Christian Common-wealth oâ— we shall be set on fire from hellâ— then your Towns Counties Cities and the whole Nation will move in a Regular Orbe Congregations be well filled We may say it would be a wonder in England if it were in any great Town as it was in Rome where there was a street called Vicus Sobrius because there was not an Ale-house in it What if some have no other living the question is can they live no otherwise than by making men drunk I admire the neglect of this foundation of Reformation in this place which so oft by the faithfull Servants of God hath been reiterated in our Congregations If these corners of Hell were blown down with the breath of Authority all the traine of Attendants like a great Courtiers would fall with himself as Cursing Swearing Blaspheming the Holy Name of God Murthers Adulteries and all other such wickednesses for which the hand of the Lord is ready with his judgements to reach us till this be done till we see the Sword of Justice make sin stagger and like that mighty wind that came from the Wildernesse upon Jobs children blow down the four corners of these places of iniquity I say till this come to passe every moment will thrive towards a dismal no one the minutes of time will swell into ages and those into eternity of punishments if not prevented If Gods wrath and anger be the evils that compasse these sins about like sparks of our own kindling and if the reformation of sin be the removing of Judgement what need then to strike at the root of iniquity If Ahabs Humiliation and the Ninevites Sackcloth and Ashes caused God to let the resolution of his Judgements run backwards If Phineas Zeal stayed the plague and saved many thousands I say if outward reformation tyes Gods hands from outward plagues what need then to look about and reform lest we that are left of so many thousands lately swept away by sicknesse diseasses c. be made examples because we learn not to beware I could instance many Examples of Gods severity to such as were slack in their Duties as Eli whose impunity to his sons impiety shrunk him under the heavy stroke of Justice but I had rather lead you by examples of Piety and Justice than drive you by those of Judgements Look to Nehemiah he sets servants at the Gates of the City and laid hands on such as prophaned the Lords Day It s worthy Observation what Ambrose sayes to Theodosius That he was more earnest and careful to observe the things of God as a Magistrate than himself as a man The Lacedemonians had their Ephori Magistrates that took care to all manner of intemperance and excesse in the City and if any were found they were beaten publickly The Carthaginians made a Law That no Magistrate should drink wine such was their care to avoid this beastly sin
windows broken the Iron barres of the windows bended and bloody and the poor wretch never more heard of These are sad instances of Gods displeasure if he would please in mercy to set them home upon some poor sinners In the year 1551. in Bohemia five drunkards were met together to drink who seeing a picture painted upon the wall for the devill drank healths to him the next night they were all found dead with their necks broken and their bodies crusht in pieces blood running out of their mouthes nostrils ears c. In the County of Cavan in Ireland a Gentleman of Castle-terra was much given to delight in drunken company wherein healths went down swiftly and glasses broke against the walls at every health by this sin he was so much addicted to wickednesse and impenitency as his sport was to repeat the Ministers Sermons in scorn and derision especially at one time having heard a Sermon upon faith demanded of the Minister if he could remove mountaines else he would not believe he had faith This Gentleman is by Gods hand struck with the small pox which gets into his throat in such extremity that he could not swallow any meat or drink to cool and refresh the violence of his internall heat that throat that had been the gutter and channel of many a pounds worth of drink could not now in torment like Dives suffer one drop to refresh him In this sad and bitter conflict he breaks out into these expressions to an honest man standing by Oh Thomas would I could now receive one of those glasses of drink which formerly I profusely and profanely have thrown against the walls And growing worse and worse without hopes of life perceiving no remedy but death for all his soares he breaks out again in his agony and torment oh that now I had but as much faith as a grain of Mustard-seed and so expired the 57. year of his Age I pray and cordially desire that such sinners as parallel this example may not be reacht with the like Justice Many there are in this Nation grown up to a height of Malice and Rage against Gods Ministers and some in this place boyled up to a proportion of envy ready to break The Lord break their hearts and humble their soules under that two-edged sword of his word that they may be saved in the day of the Lord A Gentleman of Quality being drunk and rising to urine evacuating that into the fire that prepared fuell for himself he fell into the fire and not being able to rise again his belly was gathered together like a piece of Lether the chamberlain coming in helped in that could not pity or help himself and though in great torture and pain through the piercing anguish of Gods Judgement yet he called for and drank off two and twenty double Jugs of Beer and so in this sad and lamentable estate died Roaring and Crying that he was damned for breaking his vow of Reformation Oh that the Lord would work a Reformation indeed that poor creatures may not thus fall under divine Justice too much to be feared as well to soul as body Remarkable is the example of that tragical story of two Drunkards who the fourth of July 1580. at Nekershofew in Almain came into an Inne called for bread and wine and drinking to an infinite excesse at last one of them drinks a health to God demanding what wine God would pledg him in and reaching forth his arm with a cup full sayes God I know not what wine thou likest best but this I think is too good for thee unlesse thou hadst sent better but such as it is I give thee take it pledge me presently and carouse it off every drop as I have done to thee or thou dost me wrong Here 's a piece of blasphemy which I am confident the most wretched creature in the world durst not speak sober Oh this sad sin we little know what the fruits of one drunken hour may produce This vile wretch no sooner ended his hellish courtesie but that just and wise God who must be provoked before he will execute his severe Judgements whom he had blasphemed pledged him with a witnesse for he left him as a pledge to the world of his wrath and displeasure against this sin His arme which he stretched out was never able to be pulled in again his body stupified as well as his senses not able to stirre from the place continuing a long time in this sad condition his eyes rolling to and fro in a terrible manner his breath and speech lost yet seemed to all alive The people flock in droves to see this sad spectacle of fury and vengeance some offer to remove him but could not horses are tied to him but could not stir him they put fire to him which would not take hold so perswaded God had set him there as a warning to Drunkards they left him so and to this day sayes my Author he stands as a Pillar and Mark to bid others avoid the like wickednesse least they participate of Gods wrath which though it moves a slow pace will in the end light heavier in as much as Gods patience provoked turns to the most irresistable punishment His companion who had escaped the imediate hand of God fell into the hands of Justice also for as the other died a terrible so this a shamefull death being hanged by the common people before the door of the house where the sin was committed O that you would consider this ye that forget God least he teare you in pieces and there be none to help At one of Alexanders great meetings appointed for his Officers and Favourits no lesse died with excesse of drink than 41. and after many a health Promachus at the bottom of four gallons of wine found the prize and jewel appointed for the Conquerour Another time he ended his own health and life by drinking a health out of Hercules Cup which to effect 35. drunk their last also These are direful and pregnant testimonies of Gods Judgements upon this impious custom of drinking healths Against that good law of the Spartans Vt bibat abitrio pocula quisque suo Every man to his own liberty Or that of the Goths where it was death to drink or force a health It s placed in the Records of time that Popelus second King of Poland doubting the fruits of his male-government to be the peoples deposing him by his Queens counsel faines himself sick sends for twenty of the Elective Princes out of Pomerania intreating their visit who as well now as at other times came and for their just reward and punishment of their great excesse in drink and custom of healths they now drunk their last without being drunk at all The King makes a Speech intreates his Son may be elected Heir to the Crown after his departure which they promise if the Nobility consented to their resolves The Queen to seal the bargaine brings a
dayes of their youth unlesse by blaspheming and cursing it 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 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 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 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 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 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 1634. one Troe of Gloceâ—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 OF THE SABBATH DAY With GODS JUDGEMENTS upon the profaners thereof I Am now to treat with the Sabbath-breaker who for many reasons will appear to be lesse excusable before God for this sin then either the Drunkard or Swearer Here is a double sin profaneing it and neglecting that which is ordained by God for the eternall good of our soul besides it is a premeditated act and goes along with a great aggravation as we shall see in a word presently It is now become so great a custome to prophane the Lords day that he almost becomes a scoffe to others that offers to reform or punish it and that men may not so much slight it I have collected a few reasons to perswade men to observe it and disswade from the profanation of it for God will not be mocked That we may know this day is no mock-day The Lord that made heaven and earth That great Jehovah stiles himself Lord of the Sabbath and the Lord hath in a more speciall manner singled out this Commandement with a memento Remember by no meanes forget the Sabbath for the Lord rested that day and he blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it It 's a great consideration to make us weigh the duty of keeping it for six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth and when the seventh day came he rested on it The Lord as it were hasted to finish the world in six dayes that he might himself be an example to lead us to the understanding of the great weight which God himself put upon this day And that we may see it is no ordinary nor common thing to break this day see how strictly God in his holy Word commands it This is that which the Lord hath said To morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord six dayes may work be done but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest Holy to the Lord he that works shall be put to death that soul shall be cut off from amongst the people it shall be observed throughout their Generations for a perpetual Covenant The Lord threatens sore Judgements and why Because they have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths and I am prophaned amongst them Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it It 's called by the Prophet the Holy of the Lord Honourable there might be many more places quoted but these few are enough to let people see that it is not a trifling matter to profane the day and that we