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A42942 God's strange and terrible judgment in Oxford-shire being a true relation how a woman at Atherbury, having used divers horrid wishes and imprecations, was suddenly burn'd to ashes all on one side of her body, when there was no fire neer her; the other part of her remaining untouch'd, and not so much as sindg'd. The like heavy and visible judgement from heaven having scarce been known or heard of in any age. Licensed May the 10. 1677. Ro. L'Estrange. 1677 (1677) Wing G962; ESTC R218332 2,807 8

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GOD'S Strange and terrible Judgment IN Oxford-shire Being a true RELATION How a Woman at Atherbury Having used divers horrid Wishes and Imprecations Was suddenly Burn'd to Ashes all on one side of her Body when there was no Fire neer her the other part of her remaining untouch'd and not so much as Sindg'd The like heavy and visible Judgement from Heaven having scarce been known or heard of in any Age. For our God is a consuming fire Licensed May the 10. 1677. Ro. L'Estrange LONDON Printed for D.M. 1677. A true and wonderful Account how a Woman was found half burnt without any fire neer her c. BEcause Judgment is not executed speedily saith Holy Writ therefore are the wicked hardened in their impieties If we consider the horrid Oaths the abominable Curses and Imprecations dayly practised and used in this sinful Age we might justly expect that the Earth should open to swallow such Miscreants alive to the pit of Hell or the Heavens dart down Thunder-bolts on their guilty heads But there is mercy with our God that he may be feared He waits upon rebellious Mortals to be gracious having sworn that he delights not in the death of a sinner but rather that he return repent and live Yet will he not always suffer his holy Spirit to be grieved with a froward and obstinate Generation but sometimes for manifestation and glory of his Justice takes sudden Vengeance even in this life on notorious Transgressors of his holy Laws and such as may make every ear to tingle and heart to ake that hears or considers it For this is certain though Divine Vengeance may seem to have leaden feet yet it hath iron hands Though Heaven strikes slowly it smites surely and bruiseth every stubborn Soul that stands out against it in rebellion to powder or everlasting destruction Not to amuse the Reader who we hope is a better experienced Christian than to need it with a tedious Preamble to demonstrate this apparent Truth or quote as we might do various Histories from worthy and credible Authors as The Theatre of God's Judgments Clarks Examples c. to parallel it We shall only impartially relate what within very few days happened in our own Nation and which is not only most notorious in all the neighbouring Countie● but also ready to be testified by divers sober persons of unblemish'd Credit in this City for an undoubted Truth too certain to be denied by any but an Infidel too remarkable to be slighted by any but an Atheist We could tell you the Persons Name and Abode which is the unhappy Subject of this Relation but ●hat our business is to make a Report of the Judgement without blasting the Person to whom God in his mercy may yet have granted the grace of a timely Repentance for ought that is known to u● So that since it hath pleased Providence to take her out of the Land of the Living we shall pay that respect to the charitable Proverb which adviseth Not to speak ill of the dead as not to blazon her Vices or Infirmities further than is necessary to the declaration of Truth and cautioning of others surviving the main and indeed only end of this Publication This unhappy Woman then keeping a small Ale house had too much addicted herself to lewd Speeches sometimes Oaths and frequently Curses as well on herself as others It hapned some few days since being all alone in her House a woman one of her Neighbours came thither for some strong Drink she had occasion for which she having drawn and received Twelve Pence or some such piece of Money instead of justly returning the full Change stopt and abated two pence or three pence out of it besides what the present Drink came to pretending there was so much formerly due and owing to her Which the other resolutely denying the Hostess began to Swear and use several profane and abominable Wishes and Imprecations saying God damn me and the Devil burn me if it be not so which last words she often repeated However the other confident perhaps in the certainty of her knowledge to the contrary still persisting to deny it and refusing to be gone without the rest of her Money The Ale-wife at last violently thrust her out of her house and to prevent her coming in again shut the Door and lockt it against her Thus with many horrid sinful expressions if not down right perjuries this poor Wretch made shift to wrangle her Neighbour out of this petty inconsiderable sum but is like to pay lamentable dear for the same For behold by a stupendious and terrible Judgment from Heaven as we cannot but suppose she was immediately called to an account and burnt to Death as she had foolishly and wickedly wisht in a wonderful and unheard-of manner For having so shut and lockt the door the same was not opened nor any further news heard of her till several hours after her Husband chanc'd to come home and wondering to finde his Door fast shut in the middle of the day without being able to make any body answer within enquired amongst his Neighbours if they saw his Wife go forth Which they all denied adding that they rather believed having wearied herself with scolding and railing at Goody such an one she was fallen asleep whereupon the man at last forc'd open the door with one or two of his Neighbours which was no sooner done but their Eyes encountred one of the most sad and dismal Spectacles that ever Mortal beheld For in the midst of the floor lay the Reliques of his Wife one Side of her Body and the Cloaths thereupon from the Soal of her Foot to the Crown of the Head being consumed and burnt to Ashes and nothing left but the Skeleton or part of the Bones whereas the other Side remained whole and the Cloaths there on not so much as toucht or sindg'd though it was observed that the Flesh and Skin there was all turn'd black as if it had been blasted with Lightning I need not stand to relate how affrighted and amazed her Hu●band and Friends were to behold this ghastly sight especially for that they could no where neer her see the least spark or symptome of Fire and were well assured that there had not been any at all in the house all that day Their consternation indeed was inexpressible and therefore I shall not vainly attempt to shadow it forth in words nor any further descant on this strange and astonishing procedure of Providence save onely to recommend it to the serious consideration of all those that have been or may be guilty of such Crying Provocations How knowest thou oh thou wretched sinner when thou art impudently blaspheming Heaven and at every other word in thy drunken Frolicks or hair-brain'd Passion calling upon God but not to have mercy on thee or pardon thee but to damn thee wishing as if thou wouldst dare Omnipotent Justice that he would confound sink rot thee or the like detestable Expressions how art thou assured I say that whilst thou art thus ranting and treasuring up so fast wrath against the day of wrath as the Apostle speaks God will permit that roaring Lion that goes about seeking whom he may devour to tear thee in pieces or hurry thee quick into the Eternal Flames Can you dare you pretend your selves Christians and live in the practice of such worse than heathenish Blasphemies Know you not that there is a sure and dreadful account to be given for every idle word and oh then what will you in that day be able to say in excuse of these black and frightful Imprecations If the Righteous scarcely be saved where shall the wicked and ungodly such profligate Sinners Swearers Cursers Blasphemers and Atheists appear Destruction and Bitterness shall be their latter end yelping and gnashing of teeth their employment tormenting Devils their Companions and Fire and Brimstone Pain and Anguish Rage Despair and horrible Darkness their portion and that Oh that they would consider it before it be to late too prevent it to all Eternity FINIS