stand as a monument of Gods severity A Noble-man that used to hunt on the Lords day had a child born unto him with a head like a Dog with eares and mouth crying like a Hound which was a very remarkable judgement of God Reports of an Husband-man that went to plough on the Lords day and cleansing his plough with an Iron it stuck so fast in his hand for two years that he carried it about with him as a signal tostimony of the Lords just displeasure against him Another that gathered corn into his barn upon the Lords day had it all with fire from heaven consumed together with the house At Kimstat in France 1559. there lived a woman that neither would go nor suffer others of her family to go to Church on the Lords day as she was drying flax fire issued out of itâ— but burnt it not she taking no notice next Sabbath day as she was busie with it miraculously again fire proceeds out of it and burnt it but was put out this poor creature was â— blind as not to see or take warning by these foot-steps of Gods mercifull providences but the third Sabbath day when she was busied about her flax as before it fires of it self and could not be quenched till she and two of her children were burnt to death And in the year 1126. One grinding corn upon the Lords days it took fire and gave him timely warning not to break the Sabbath day by the works of his calling In Helvetia nigh Belessina three men were playing at Dice on the Lords day one called Vlrick Schraeterus having hopes of a good cast because being crost to the losse of much money before he now expected fortune or rather the Devill to favour his desire and therefore he uttered these horrid words If fortune do dececeive me now I will thrust my dagger into the Body of God as farre as I can O the cursed frames of our naturall tempers if once God cast the reins into our own wills the Dice favours him not and presently he drawes his dagger and with a powerful force throws it up towards heaven which never was seen more and immediately five drops of blood falls before them all upon the Table and as suddenly comes the Devill amongst them carries away this vile wretch with such a terrible and hideous noyse as the whole City was astonished at it Those two remaining alive endevoured to wipe off the blood but to so little purpose that the more they rub'd the more the drops of blood were perspicuous Report carries it all over the City multitudes flock to see this wonder who found only the Sabbath profaners rubbing the blood to get it out these two by decree of the Senate of the City were bound in Chains and as they were led to the prison one of them was suddenly struck dead from out of whose body a wonderful number of wormes and vermin was seen to crawle The City thus terrified with Gods judgements and to the intent that God might be glorified and a future vengeance averted from the place caused the third to be forthwith put to death And the Table with the drops of blood on it preserved as a monument of Gods wrath upon this sin not only of Sabbath-breaking but swearing and wicked gameing O the depth of the knowledge of God How unsearchable are his judgments and his wayes past finding out January 13. 1583. At the Bear-garden in Southwark on a Sabbath day afternoon many people pressing on the Scaffolds to see the sport forced it suddenly down with which fall eight were killed and many spoyled in their bodies who lived not long after Much like to it was that at Risley in Bedfordshire 1607. where many people rather then resort to hear the the word of the Lord by the mouth of his Minister came in great numbers to see a Stage-play on the Lords day the Chamber floor fell down and as a judgment of God upon this sad wilful sin many were killed and wounded thus we see when the works of piety and mercy are neglected to prosecute sinne and wickednesse Gods judgements are swift to overtake us thereby endeavouring to hedg up our way with thornes which examples may push us back from the like impiety and vengeance of an angry God A sad example of Gods severity in â—is hot and sore displeasure against â—abbath-breakers is recorded of Feverton in Devonshire which place saith he , was frequently admonished of the profanation of the Lords day by a Market kept the day following which without reformation would inevitably pluck down divine vengeance A little after the Ministers death upon the third of April 1598. A sudden fire from heaven consumeth the whole Town in lesse than half an hour excepting only the Church Court-house and Almes-house where was consumed in this fire of Gods wrath four hundred dwelling houses and fifty soules destroyed Who will not say this was a sad and immediate hand of the Lord but alas what will not poor creatures do that follow sin with greedinesse The same Town fourteen years after on the fifth of August 1612. for the same sin was wholly consumed except some thirty poor peoples houses School-house Almes-houses these Judgements are not recorded for Historical Perusall but to consider of and remember those on whom the Tower of Shilo fell At Alcester in Warwick-shire where the Authour lived there were of his own knowledge four remarkable Judgements of God One that upon the publishing of the Declaration for sports and pastimes upon the Lords day A young woman on this day comes to the Green and sayes She would dance as long as she could stand and dancing in the midst of her sin God struck her with such a violent disease that in two or three dayes she died in misery as an example to all that delight more in serving their own pleasures and sinfull desires then to wait upon God and delight in his wayes The other of a young man of the same place and not long after the other who on the Lords day immediately after the evening exercise was finished brings into the street a pair of Cudgells layes them down nigh unto the Ministers house and invited divers to play with him who refusing at length comes one and taking up the Cudgels sayes Though I never played in my life yet I will play one bout now A little after sporting with a young woman he takes up a Birding-piece charged saying Have at thee the piece goes off and murders her immdiately for which as a deserved judgement he suffered the Law Another of a Miller at Wootton in the same County who going forth to a Wake and coming home at night found his House Mill and all that he had burnt down to the ground A fourth upon Mr. Clarks own knowledge is of many wicked and prophane persons at Woolston in the same County who on the Lords day met at a Whitsun-Ale in a
a judgement of God upon him for prophanation of his day and ever after he became a more frequent resorter to the congregation and hearing Gods word At Thornton nigh Worcester upon the publishing of the book of sports on the Lords day the people prepared for a solemn prophanation by ordering purveyors on purpose to provide things fit for it A proper maid went to the Mill on Satterday to fetch home the meal on the Lords day the maid passing by a hedge with the meal upon her head was overtaken with a sudden and sad stroak of Divine Justice for she fell down dead into a ditch there she lay all Sabbath day on Munday she was carried to her grave where all their intended mirth was buried with her c. such a terrour it wrought in the people and such Reformation in the place that no more Summer-Ales were kept they took down the May-pole and none durst set it up again or have to do with the publick prophanation of that day One at Ham nigh Kingstone a scoffer of goodnesse and a common prophaner of the Lords day did on that holy day presume to visit his grounds where finding some cattle grazing which were not his own running to drive them out he fell down and suddenly died upon the place Upon May day being the Lords day a maid in Cripple-gate London being married to one that had three children one of them being at nurse in the Country they did on the Lords day spend the whole afternoon in feasting and dancing but God is just and will be seen in his judgements to warn others for a week after the plague began in the Parish the first house it entered into is this new married couples with which both himself wife and two children were swept away by death These things are not to be scoffed at they are not things of chance or blind fortune no no they are providence and though they are judgements in themselves yet in the issue I hope they will be mercifull warnings to others Not far from Dorchester lived one widow Jones whose Son Richard upon the Lords day notwithstanding her admonitions and perswasions did with his companions go to Stoak to play where after they had done and drank somewhat freely they return home and by the way fell out whereupon John Edwards one of his consorts stabbed him under the left side vvhereof at seven a clock the next night he died One David Price a servant to T. Hill a Grasier offering to drive his cattel from Banbury was dissvvaded by his Landlord and told him he vvould be stopped and forced to satisfie the Lavv to vvhich he replied let me see who will hinder In the morning he set out and not yet out of the Tovvnes end one met him and said What David to day to day he ansvvered not but passed on and although he never complained nor any other saw any signes of the least sicknesse yet in a stones cast of the Town he fell down dead suddenly and was buried in Banbury Church-yard the next day after At Wicks betwixt Colchester Harwich upon Whitsunday last in the after-noon two fellowes meeting at the Foot-ball the one killed the other At Oxford one Lords day one Hawkes a Butcher would needs mend his ditch his wife disswaded him from it on that day but he would and did go but behold the remarkable justice of God! he is struck dead in the ditch a sad example amongst other of Gods terrible Judgements One Mr. Powel upon the Lords day did at Lemster serve a Writ of Sub poena upon one Mr. Shuit a Gentleman which he did on purpose upon that day as is credibly reported as soon as he came out of the Church into the Church-yard to whom Mr. Shuit said I thought you had been an honester man than to do so upon this day who replied I hope I am never a whit the more dishonest which he had no sooner spake but suddenly he fell down dead and never spake word more his wife seeing it was immediately struck with sicknesse May 31. 1635. being the Lords day one Rich. Clark Apprentice to Timothy Donorell of Sherston in Wiltshire was drunk in company with one H. Parrum to whom he said he vvould hang or drown himself desiring to know which was the best who replied that he hoped he would do neither But oh the judgements of the Lord upon the prophaners of this day and upon the sin of Drunkennsse for on Monday morning he was seen going thorough the Town as if he were going about his Masters businesse and having got up upon the midst of a Tree without the Town he there did hang himself At Billericay in Essex one Theo. Pease the Ministers son would needs ring the Bells on the Sabbath day but was hindred by the Officers the next Lords day he had gathered many together and in despite of any would ring and whilst he was ringing a giddinesse surprized him like one drunk of which he fell sick and in three dayes died The Tapster and Chamberlain of Queens Head Southwark rode upon the Lords day to be merry and having been too bold with drink one of them riding homewards fell off his horse and broke his neck Being the Lords day an Apothecaries man in Lime-street London rid with another to Barnet to be merry and being drunk upon their return they met with a man travelling to whom offering some abuse the man strikes one of their horses one of them bid the other run him through which with his Rapier he did through the left breast so that he fell down dead and being both apprehended they confessed and were sent to New-gate At Baildon in Yorkshire two men sitting drinking at a Wake they quarrelled with one another but being parted and one of them sitting by the fire side the other presently falls upon him with a Hatchet and cleaves him down the back insomuch as his bowels fell forth the murderer being hotly pursued leapt into a River and drowned himself Four travelling from London to Maidenhead one of them would needs travel on the Lords day the rest refused spending the Sabbath there this man rode in the morning to Henly and there heard a Sermon after that travelled again in the afternoon and on his way leading his horse down a smooth descent his horse suddenly fell and broke both his fore legs He was suddenly amazed at so strange and unexpected a Providence and could not but attribute it to the immediate hand of God whereupon seeing him past recovery he knockt his horse on the head and so left him The next day being overtaken at Abington by his fellow-travellers they wondering demanded the reason how it came to passe he was no further on his way He smote his breast and related the strange Providence of God towards him saying He had heard many a good Sermon but none of them ever wrought so much upon
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
ought to give all diligence and respect to this day as a day greatly valued prised and esteemed of by God himself Anno 1647. there was a deplorable accident a tremendous instance of the justice of God upon a person a â—armer in a Village called Little-â—allerton in the County of Northumberland about six miles distant from New-Castle The Relation is thus The Minister teaching upon that Scripture 1 Epist. Pet. 2. cap. 2. latter part Who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvellous light and in the fore-noon Sermon insisting upon the spiritual darknesse and blindnesse of unregenerate men and aggravating the many evills attending upon that condition in this life and asserting the wofull condition period state and conditon of such as should die in that estate of spiritual darknesse how that to such is resreveâ— the blacknesse of darknesse which was occasionally improved to discoveâ— the miserable condition of the damned in hell by reason of their separation from God called utter darknesse Mat. 22.13 and 8.42 25 1â— At the ending of the first Sermon this miserable man accompanied others of his neighbours to the Alâ— house for refreshment the time of râ—paire to the second Sermon beinâ— come some of them moved him to return with them to whom he replyeâ— that the Minister was preaching upoâ— darknesse and he would not hear hiâ— till he should treat upon the light and so continued drinking in the Alehouse with some other profane souldiers and by having immoderately taken Ale and Hot Waters was in the height of his drunkennesse carried to bed in the Ale-house where after a short time he ended his miserable life dying in the very act of sin without any visible act of Repentance This Relation is inserted verbatim as I have it from a godly Minister of the Gospel in the same County and not farre from the same place and is indeed a sad example of Gods Judgement not only against the sin of profaning the Lords day but also of drunkennesse and contempt of the Gospel Now because I observe this day so greatly neglected by the generality of the Nation not onely neglecting to hear the Word preached which is able to save their soules but also violating of it by profanation give me a word and that only to such as professe the observance of it as lawfull for if such a slighting of this day grow we shall from it run to Atheisme by contempt of Gods holy Ordinances and Commandments Let us first consider the end of God in the Sabbath which is chiefly for sanctification of his name and what creature dare say he is not strictly tyed by all the obligations expressable It is a day of liberty not of bondage God can be sanctified without us he shineth not with borrowed lights these tapers that burne from mortall breach can adde no glory to God but as in his great mercy and condescention he is pleased to accept of us Then the intent of this day as to our advantages it 's for the eternall good of our soules that the Lord may by this occasion reach our slow understanding and with his Word preached that he may dwell with the humble and contrite spirit We are not only to avoyd profaning it by not Working Drinking Playing Idlenesse Travelling c but we ought to frequent the publick worship of God in the Assemblies of his people and there to hear his word with Godly reverence and fear The reasonablenesse of one day in seven for God and our own souls may convince us in a great measure of this day that is a sin less excusable that 's so reasonable that we may have the lesse to say for our excuse he gives us 6 for our outward affairs oh then who can grudge the 7th especially when God links in our immortal happinesse together with his own glory It was the custom of Christians in Trajan the Emperours time to meet on the Lords Day morning sing a Psalm receive the Sacrament and covenant to flie sin on that day and when Christians were summoned before the Heathen Governours and demanded Dost thou believe the Lords Day the answer was I am a Christian Take away the Sabbath sayes a Reverend Divine and Religion will soon wither and decay The Indians might as well have been chosen the subjects of this profitable Obedience and we in their conditions keeping instead of a Sabbath to God every day to the Devil It will be more tollerable I am afraid for them at that Great day than for us If we had been left to our own choice What squarer division of time could have been thought upon than one day for our souls and another for our bodies one for the World another for Heaven This had been the reasonable rule of proportion it s more grace than reason that God should desire but one day in seven and that day also to be for our eternal good Oh how inexcusable will it be for us that prophane it or neglect the advantages of it Is refraining from labour a toil to us Is to be eased of sin a burden Lord then let me be burdened for Lord thy yoke is easie and thy burden is light What is a more unspeakable mercy than for souls to have communion with God as well as our own hearts And as Divines say glory is but grace perfected So that eternal Sabbath of rest is but as I may say this perfected This sin is accompanied with many aggravations and this is none of the least that we have a will given us to refuse to prophane it Besides its a deliberate act of the mind it s not sudden as an oath or murder but in the very act it self thou canst not but know thou art sinning against the light of thy conscience it s the greatest sin that is accompanied with time to consider an enlightened mind to understand the evil to purpose to evil is an aggravation as high as the sin If aggravations face not this sin with a dreadful countenance consider and in reason think Is it not just with God to suffer thy frail composure of corruption to shrink under his heavy judgements that at night Gods protection should leave us as in our graves when we are in our beds Or canst thou expect any blessing upon thy outward estate when it is in the power of God to dispose of life being health estate and all Is it not just if we travel on this day that God should judge us with sudden death in the like severity as he hath made others examples of to all Ages Yet if God do suffer thy corn wine and oil to encrease fear a curse under the Strawberry leaves of thy enjoyments for a blessing is not the shadow of sin it will not follow thee in the wayes of wickednesse rather fear some judgement will overtake thy swift motion to impiety A word to two sorts First those that prophane it contemning not onely Gods Lawes but the Lawes of the Nation
Smiths Barn and though it grieved the holy man of God who was Minister of the place as the Sodomites did Lot yet he could not help it but in their profanenesse they proceeded not long after a fire kindles in the place of this impiety and burnes down not onely his House Shop and Barn but rages so vehemently as it reaches many other houses with ruin all being chief actors in this horrid profanenesse In the year 1634. upon a Lords day when the River Trent was frozen over fourteen young men were at foot-ball upon the Ice near Gainsborough and meeting all in a cluster together the wrath of God met with them and suddenly the Ice broke and they were immediately drowned Oh the justice of the Lord upon the prophaners of his Holy day The same painful and useful Author of Gods examples relates a sad one of Gods Judgements upon two fellows in Essex near Brinkely that were working in a Chalk-pit one of them boasting that he had vext his Mistresse by coming so late in from his Sabbath-dayes Sports and Recreations ◠but sayes he I will anger her worse next Sabbath day which words were no sooner out but Justice seizes upon him for the Earth falls upon him and he never stirred more to his Sabbath prophanesse his fellowes limbs were broken both being sharers in the sin of the Sabbath are made also to be so in their sufferings and punishments The Lord will be known in the paths and wayes of his Judgements to such as will not be led and allured by his tender mercies And of one Mr. Ameredith a Gentleman of Devonshire being recovered from a pain which he had suffered in his feet one of his friends saying he was glad to see him so nimble the Gentleman replies He hoped his hopes should not be frustrated of the great expectations he had to dance about the May-Pole the next Sunday But behold the Lord in a just punishment for such impious and wicked resolutions and no doubt also for his former prophanesse on that day smites him suddenly with feeblenesse and faintnesse of heart ere he stirred from the place and with such a strange dizzinesse in the head that he was forc't to be led home and from thence to his last home before the Lords Day shined upon him Now tell me any that can what little hopes the poor souls thus ushered to the chambers of death have to keep an eternal Sabbath with God that will not keep his Sabbath from prophaning on earth Truly these are sad symptoms of Gods heavy displeasure against soul as well as body his mercy if any be in such dismal dispensations are occult and hidden the Lord in mercy warn poor sinners to avoid the wrath of such an Infinite God that such as will not be intreated to keep the Lords day as they ought may be terrified from prophaning of it Another as severe he relates which together with the three former are attested by sufficient witnesses At Walton upon Thames in Survey upon a great frost in the year 1634. three young men having in the forenoon heard a Sermon from 2 Cor. 5.10 We must all appear before the Judgement-seat of Christ c. they went over the Ice into an house of disorder and gaming where they prophanely spent away the rest of the Lords day and night also in revelling and drinking the one of them next day boasting merrily of his pleasure upon the Sabbath day and his adventure over the Ice All three on Tuesday return the way they went and upon the Ice suddenly sunk to the bottom like stones one of them onely miraculously preserved These judgements may be mercies to some that are yet prophaners of the Lords day if God please At Burton upon Trent Mr. Abberly a godly Minister often took occasion to reprove and threaten such as make no conscience of the Lords day by prophaning it in a more peculiar manner such as bought and sold meat upon this day which it seems was a sin as great and as commonly practised in this place as it was lately at Buntingford where in my journey some Gentlemen of Newcastle being my fellow-travellers we took occasion after Sermon to acquaint the Minister withal I pray God it may not be so still lest such a judgement befal the place as did this prophane wretch which was thus A Taylor being a nimble and active man dwelling at the upper end of the Town must needs in a bravado go to the further end to buy some meat before morning-prayer but coming home with both his hands full in the midst of the street he fell down stark dead I was sayes Doctor Teate an eye-witnesse both of his fall and burial and that it wrought a reformation in the place both among the Butchers and others It was a remarkable Providence and I wish I say that other places may be reformed of this bold and impudent sin or truly they may repent of it when it s too late A Pious Divine sayes he The Lord hath spoken so loud from heaven against Sabbath-sinners that I cannot be silent We hereabout have had in a short time terrible tokens of God severe vengeance upon such as mind not the service of his Day amongst our selves a sad example A Townsman going to gather Cherries on the Lords Day fell from the tree and in the fall was so battered and bruised that he never spake more but lay groaning in his blood until the next day and then died Another man not far from this place in Cherry-time as he was gathering fruit fell from the tree and with the fall was so hurt that he lay in anguish and dreadful dolour all the week till Sabbath day and then ended his miserable life And of a young man that on the Lords Day in a place nigh unto Mr. Goodwins scrambling with others for Peares thrown out in the Church-yard broke his main thigh-bone and the bone of his leg on the same side which was so miserably and strangely broken as that the Bone-setter who was a godly man told Mr. Goodwin though he had seen many yet he never saw the like God here dealt in mercy as well as in judgememt in that he 〈◊〉 him space to repent and see his sin The Lord warn us all by these examples A company of prophane young men in 1635. near Salisbury upon the Lords Day morning went to Clarington Park to cut down a May-Pole and having loaden the Cart with the tree and themselves with the bitter fruits of sin they are severely punisht by the hand of God For entring into the City of Salisbury through a place called Milners Bars unawares the Cart gives a turn and the end of the tree struck one of the Sabbath-breakers such a mortal blow that his brains flew out and there on the place he yeilded himself a conquered sinner by the Just hand of the Lord lying there as a sad spectacle of Gods indignation and sayes Mr Clark I enquired of
his conscience as this Providence of God did and since it was no worse it should be an example and a warning to him for ever after Oh that it might be so to others that may heare of it or read it In the year 1644. was a Beer-Brewer dwelling in Giles-Criplegate London nigh unto the white Horse that usually followed the sinful practise of Brewing upon the Lords Day for which he was warned and told of the greatnesse of the sin and how severe God was to such sinful practises but he reformed not Once upon a Lords day at noon the Reverend M. T. VVeld Lecturer of the said place from whom I had the Relation went into the house and taking them at work lovingly yet sharpely admonished them to whom they promised to do so no more within a Sabbath or two after the same servant of the house which before was taken in the act was now again found guilty of the same sin but mark the Justice of the Lord for setting fire to the Copper when it was scalding hot he fell over into it and was immediatly scalded to death Another which I had from the same hand A Cook in the same Parish using to make it his trade on the Lords day to heat Ovens and bake meat whereby all the family was imployed as on other dayes without regard to the Lords day unlesse to his own profit never or seldom frequenting the Word preached was often admonished yet went on in his sin One Christmas day which fell upon the Lords day as he was working and labouring as if no time were unlawful to gain the world though he neglected his eternal soul he was consumed to death by fire A Vintner that was a great swearer and drunkard as he was standing at his own door upon the Lords day with a pot in his hand to invite his guests was by the wonderful justice and power of God carried into the aire with a whirlwind and never seen nor heard of more Much might be said but my Work swells upon the Loome yet have I left many example to have the choice I shall conclude with one word and that is to pray us to consider that God blessed that is say Divines with intention of bestowing favours and benefits this day O let 's then labour for Gods blessing above all things Read those Promises in Esay 56.4 5 6 7. Jer. 17.24 25. let us labour for hearts to attend with delight to his Lawes and Ordinances when once we leave off Ordinances I durst almost say we are in a more sure way to ruin than the most outward prophane They are mercies not so much prized as they would if we wanted them A confluence brings a glut and that a disgust of the most relishing mercies A ten or five mile Sermon formerly tasted sweeter than now greater opportunities of grace and mercy nigher hand and within our reach I say let us set a high value upon the favour and means of conveyances let 's love and honour the faithful Ministers of the Word to love them is to love to hear them Hate thy Minister and then follows contempt of the Word and so hardnesse of heart this is commonly the sad effect of this sin Scoffers of Religion the Ministers of his precious Gospel and people have been made spectacles of Gods anger Judgements are prepared for scorners Prov. 19.29 They are blessed that sit not in their seat Psal. 1.1 One present in this Congregation sayes a Reverend Divine was an eye-witnesse of a woman scoffing at another for piety immediately she had her tongue strucken with a palsie and in two dayes died thereof Value therefore I say thy Minister for he is set over thee for to watch for the good of thy soul the love of the Minister and the Word is no small help to the keeping of the Lords day I conclude with the Psalmist Consider this all ye that forget God lest he teare you in pieces and there be none to deliver you Reader These following sad Examples came to my hand since the Printing of the former part of the Treatise which I thought good to insert here On Thursday in the last week save one of June 1620. A house was burnt down at Hether set in Norfolk there being a jar in the morning between the man and his wife as is said The woman wished that her husband going out might never return to his house which was burnt down e're he came home On the 22th of July 1627. at Barnham-broom some would needs draw up a Bell it being the Lords day into his place that it might be ready against the Bell-founder came on Friday that so they might not hinder their businesse Some went unwillingly to it but others went forewarned and did it when it was up he that was one of the readiest W. Baynes setting his foot on a board that brake or slipped fell and beat out his braines and miserably ended his dayes Aug. 6. 1627. At Scolebridge a man drunken being fastned on a Cart the horse turning suddenly overthrew the Cart into the River loaden with lime upon the drunken man where he was drowned and fearfully burnt with lime In the former part of Summer a man being drunk at VVimondham fell into a watery miry place and was drowned Another Drunkard vomiting a Sow followed him and eat up his vomit at last falling from his horse the Sow pulled out his throat and so he miserably died reported by the Judge at the Assizes FINIS Amos 3.6 Psal. 9.16 Epistle to Mr. Murcots Wo. * Mayor of Exceter Mr. Mantons Epist. to his life death * Suspected to favour Puritans VVilsons K. James Tit. 2.11 a 2. Turkish Hist. Wilson K. Ja. Prov. 23.29 R. Junius L. Bacon D. Taylor Esay 28.1 2 3 7 8 19. Chap. 22.12 13 14. Chap. 5.22 Joel 1.5 1 King 16.9 10. 2 Sam 13.28 Gen. 9.21 Peards Theatre Non ut vivat fed ut bibat Mr. Nealson Minister his Letter to Mr. Taylor in Theatre of Gods Judgements Mr. Ward his Wo to Drunkards D.T. Taylor Mr. Beadles Diary Mr. Clerks Examples Mr. Young Mr. Stubs Anatomy of abuses Mr. Young Doctor Beards Theatre Mr. Trapp M. L. marg Math. 5.34 Prov. 6.34 Levit. 24.14 Hosea 2.4 marg Psal. 109.13 Neh. 13 2. Mal 3 4. Mr. Beadles Diary Mr. Ridsley Serm. R. Junius Theatre of Gods Judgements Mr. Bolton Theatre of Gods Judgements Mr. Clerks examples Theatre of Gods Judgements Luthers Colloquia Theatre of Gods Judgements Mr. Terry's East-India voyage Theatre of Gods Judgements Theatre of historâ— Theatr. Gods Judgements Stow. Cron. Theatre of God Judgements Fox Acts Theatre Histo. Theatr. of Gods Judgements Wilson K. James Sin stigmatised Sword against Swearers Dr. Williams true Church Mr. Nowel These two I have from a reverend Divine of this County The Relation from his Brothers own mouth now alive 1645. 1627. Mr. Burtons Tragedy c. Mat. 12.8 Exod. 20. Exod. 16.23 31.15 35.3 Ezech. 22.26 Isay 56.2 58.13 Rom. 10 14 17. Mr. Goodwin Mr. Cawdry Jer. 17 27. Neh. 13.18 Ezek. 22.26 31. Theatrâ— of History Theatre of Gods Judgements Mr. Clarks examples Rom. 11.33 Theatre of Gods Judgements Luke 13.4 Mr. Clarks Examples 1657. Mr. P. Goodwin Dies dominicus redivivus 117. Mr Clarks Examples Dr. Twiss on Sabb. Dr. Beards Theatre C. Tacitus Josephus Mr. Nelson Minister his letter to Mr. Taylor in Theatre of Judgements 1634. 1634. 1635. July 19. 1635. July 1654. 1634. July 1634. Octoct 1633. 1634. 1634. January 1634. March 1634. June 1635 Feb. 9. 1634. April 18. 1635. Mr. Weld Mr. Clark 2 King 1. 2 King 2 Mr. Greenhill on Ezekiel Psal. 50.22