A timely warning to rash and disobedient persons: or, A strange and wonderful relation of a young gentleman that sold himself to the devil for twelve years to have power of being revenged on his father and mother, and now his time being expired, he lies in a sad and deplorable condition, to the amazement of all spectators. With the substance of a sermon upon this unhappy accident; also a prayer for the grace of God against temptation. By D. S. And now published as a monument of divine vengrance, to drive hard-harted and stubborn sinners to a speedy repentance.

A Timely WARNING TO Rash and disobedient Persons.

HOw dreadful and amazing the fatal Consequences of Malice and Revenge have proved to those that have un∣luckily harboured them in their Bosoms, no Age has been ignorant of; nor has sad and fearful Examples been wanting, as Witnesses of God's Wrath and Indignation against da∣ring Sinners, by suffering them to fall in the Snares they have laid for others; for to what prodigious Slanders, Abuses, Rapes, Murthers, and all manner of such like Evils have unruly Passion carried some Men and Women, for which, in fine, themselves have suffered Shame Punishment and untimely Death! But among the many that have created Trembling and Horror in the Minds of good Christians, what we are now about to relate, may even startle the Reader, to think that such a Temptation should take place.

In a small Town near Portsmouth, there li∣ved a wealthy Gentleman, having got an Estate by his Labour and Industry; but amongst his Fortunes had the Misfortune, as many indul∣gent Parents have met withal, to have an Un∣dutiful and Extravant Son; and though he was tender over him, yet in the end, his rei∣terated

Affronts, Abuses, and Debaucheries, began to lesson the Father's Affection, and cau∣sed him to hold his Hand from supplying him with Mony as formerly: This incensed the Son, and made him fly out into unatural Expressions against his Father, and resolving upon Revenge, studied many ways, but thro' his Father's Caution, and the Hand of Divine Providence, they took no Effect: Then he ap∣plied himself to his Mother, who in Hopes of his reclaiming and returning to the Rules of Duty and Obedience, her Fondness constrain'd her to supply him (unknown to his Father) with Mony and Credit; but finding this ra∣ther proved as Fuel to continue and increase the Flame of his Lusts and Excess, she grew weary of taking any further Care to supply him with Mony: but however, spared not to give good Admonishment, and with Tears to intreat him to take up, and not to be a Scandal and Grief to her and his Father.

This proved but Oyl thrown into the Flame and made him break out into Curses and Exe∣crations, yet she gave not so over, but set many of her Neighbours and Relations to see if they could perswade him to a better Tem∣per; but their Sollicitations proved as suc∣cessess, and he was given over as a lost young Reprobate, which too fatally proved true, as ••n the Sequel will appear; for altho' he was ••o obstinate, yet when Necessity pinched him,

he was constrained to come to his Father's House, where free Entertainment for Diet and Lodging was not denied him: when on a Day being at Dinner, he asked his Father to let him have ten Pounds to pay off a Debt, for which he fear'd to be arrested: But he refusing, he started up, and went away in a great Huff, vowing to be revenged for that Denial, at the Hazard of Body and Soul. This made the aged People weep, and condole their Mis∣fortunes, and wish that all People would be warned, and not appear too fond and indulgent of their Children in their Minority, but keep a strict Hand over them, to prevent their Ru∣ine when they grow in Years.

This Graceless Son, upon his Departure, went to a Quack-pretender to Astrology, to have his Father's Nativity cast, thereby to know how long he should live; who told him a very plaucible Story, after he had erected his 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ample: but to as much Purpose, 〈…〉〈…〉 old Man 〈…〉〈…〉 Mountebank for his D••ath, which put 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into a great Fret•• and that being over, he fell into a deep Melancholly, which lasted many Days; in which time, he owned the Devil tempted him to kill his Father and Mother; and tho' he started at first at so bloody and barbarous a Suggestion, yet he had it several times after in his Thoughts, and laid some Projects to effect

it; and once he let go the Cock of a Pistol at his Father, but it missed Fire: And as these Thoughts of Mischief were in his Head, and was beating his Brains, he had Notice that he had disinherited him for the last violent At∣tempt, and setled his Estate upon his Daugh∣ter, the Sister of this Extravagant. This enra∣ged him more and more, and now nothing but the bloodiest Revenge he could ca••t in his Mind fitted his Temper; when one Evening in his Closet, at a Lodging 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had taken, musing on these Matters, and verily conceived he was awake, a very fair and proper Woman, to out∣ward Appearance, entred his Chamber, and gave a Rap or two at his Closet-door, which he opened, and was at first startled; but then thinking it might be some Gentlewoman that lodged in the House, he began to complement her, and in the end they fell into Discourse, the supposed Lady earnestly pressing•• him to know the Cause of his Melancholly; which he, out of Bashfulness, for a time declined; but being more eag••rly pressed, he told her, he was born to a good Estate, and was brought up like a Gentleman; but having a covetous niggardly Father, he denied him a Competen∣cy to maintain him suitable to his Education, and several other Passages; and that now he had utterly barred him of the Hope he had to live well after his Death, in setling his E∣state on another, which had much perplexed

his Spirits, and almost distracted him. To which the Female Shape replyed with a smile, That if that was all, his loss should be repair∣ed, if he would follow the Advice that should be given; and that he should be revenged of the Injury done him, upon those that had done it.

This Discourse could not but Amaze the un∣happy young Man, to think what it might tend to, and made him inquisitive who this new Ac∣quaintance might be; but she refused to re∣solve him, forbidding him to make further en∣quiry; and to show it a design in earnest, clap∣ed a Purse of Gold into his Hand, and a Diamond Ring on his Finger; which so overjoy'd him, that in a fatal Hour, he rashly declared, he would do whatever she desired with his Body and Soul. And here they struck a fatal Bargain, That she would maintain him in all manner of Splender, and help him to be revenged on his Enemies for the space of twelve Years, if after that, he would go with her whither she would car∣ry him. This, after some pause, he promi∣sed; then she shewed him a Cabinet full of Diamonds, Rubies, Pearls, and Gold; and withal, bid him Write and Sign the Con∣tract in a few Words, and she would desire no Witness, charging him to be private in the Business.

This he did, though (as he confessed) his

Hand and Heart trembled, and he felt an un∣usual reluctancy of Mind: However, the dark Project went on, and she carried away the Writing; yet he said, when he had slept and waked again, he took all as if it had passed by the way of a Dream; and indeed, Satan, the great Deceiver, had deluded him; for the Treasure he thought he had in Possession, was Fantastical, or Imaginary; and he had that way, no doubt, been imposed on with seem∣ing Riches by him, who can at Will, turn his own dreadful Form into that of an Angel of Light: This startled him, and he could not well perswade himself of the Truth of what had passed, but suspected, whether he was in his right Wits or not; yet going abroad the next Day, he found a real Purse of Gold, and in it a Diamond Ring, and some Stones of great Price, and this he concluded to be the Success of his Agreement, and disputed not further the Matter at that time; but getting into a Gang of Gamesters, he continued to encrease his Store, and lived in all manner of Riot and Debauchery; yet nothing could put his Father's last Act out of his Mind, and he studied daily to be revenged; and at length the old Man was taken with a pining Disease of which he grievously languished, and most were of Opinion, he was Bewitched: The Mother was taken with an unusual Palsie; their Cattle and Poultry died strangely; and lastly, the Fa∣ther,

after a long Sickness, gave up the Ghost.

The Son all this while flourished to outward Appearance, chiefly by Gaming, in which he had prodigeous Success, contrary to what he was wont; so that the Devil, no doubt, help∣ing his Servant, People wondered how they came by it, and gave various Censures: But the twelve Years growing to an end, he fell into an unaccountable Melancholly, and would often burst into Tears; fearful to be alone; and found such a Hell of Horrour in his Mind that he wished for Death: But being desired by some Friends to pray, he told them his He••••t was so hardned, he could not; and although he was prayed with, yet he minded it not, but frightfully cast his Eyes about, as if some fearful Apparition had been near; and once in the Agony of his Mind, attempt∣ed to hang himself; and so continued, t••••••••ng what he knew of this Matter, till the time as near as he could compute was expired; when in the Night-time, there arose such a Storm of Wind, Lightning, Thunder, and Rain, as frighted most People; and the Roof of the House where he lay being split in s••••∣der, his Body was rent in a fearful manner and turned black, as if scorched with Fire and having lain some time to the Astonishment of many Spectators, was privately Intered: And may this be a Warning to wicked Livers