A compleat history of the most remarkable providences both of judgment and mercy, which have hapned in this present age extracted from the best writers, the author's own observations, and the numerous relations sent him from divers parts of the three kingdoms : to which is added, whatever is curious in the works of nature and art / the whole digested into one volume, under proper heads, being a work set on foot thirty years ago, by the Reverend Mr. Pool, author of the Synopsis criticorum ; and since undertaken and finish'd, by William Turner...

CHAP. CI. Divine Judgments upon Blasphemy and Profaneness.

BY Blasphemy, I mean Speaking Irreverently and Disrespectfully of Sacred things; and by Prophaneness an open Conversation agreeable to such Dish••••••••rable and Rude Idea's: And such Crimes certainly have no foundation of Security, no ground to build any hopes of Impunity upon, for so long as there is a God existent in the World, and that God concerned in the Government of the World, he will take notice of such open Disrespects, or none. 'Tis the Interest of the Deity, at least now and then, to make a sharp Animadversion upon such open Impiety, even in this World.

1. Eugenius being Emperor, Flavianus the Prefect, desired Leave of him to Build an Altar to Victory at Milan, which Ambrose hearing of, departed from thence to Bononia; but after a while returned again, (Eugenius and Flavianus being gone to War against Theodosius;) But before their departure they had sent word, That when they returned Conquerors, they would make the Great Church in Milan a Stable for Horses: but God prevented them; for Engenius was Slain by his own Soldiers, and Theodesius got the Victory. Clark's Marrow of Ecclesiastical History.

2. A. C. 1617. Marcus Antonius de Dominis, Arch-bishop of Spalato, a Man Old and Corpulent, and so unfit for Travel, being almost at his Journeys end by Nature, came into England, leaving his Countrey, [Italy] as he affirmed, for Religion, whereof he set forth in Writing many Reasons, and being thereupon Entertained, he Preached, Railed, and Writ against Rome, extolling the Protestant Religion, till he became Dean of Windsor, and Master of the Savoy, which he enjoyed for some few years. Then, whether he had higher hopes at home, or the Humour and Fancy altering, he went Retrograde: And after five years stay here, he Retracted all that he had said and written: which so Incens'd King James, that he commanded him (within three days) at his Peril, to depart the Realm: Who thereupon went to Rome, and there in veighed as bitterly against the Protestants, as he had done in England against the Papists, hoping at least for Pardon, if not for Preferment. But, notwithstanding his Recan∣tation, according to the Law of the Inquisition, having once Revolted (though now Returned,) he Suffered the Death of an Heretick, had the Punishment of a Martyr, though not the Ho∣nour: For he was publickly burnt at Rome, yet not burnt alive, but dying in Prison, and be∣ing Buried, his Body was afterwards taken up and Burnt. Such Honour have all such Saints; For they hold it as a Maxim, That that Foundation is never to be Built upon that was once of a Tottering Temper. Sir Richard Baker's Chron. Clark's Examples C. 10. P. 27.

3. A. C. 1550. There was at Ferrara in Italy, on Faninus, who, by Reading of good Books, was by God's Grace Converted to the knowledge of the Truth, wherein he found such Sweetness, that by constant Reading, Meditation and Prayer he grew so expert in the Scriptures, that he was able to instruct others: And though he durst not go out of the Bounds of his Calling to Preach openly, yet by Conference and private Exhortations he did good to many. This coming to the knowledge of the Pope's Clients, they Apprehended, and Committed him to Prison; where, by the earnest Solicitation of his Wife and Children, and other Friends, he was over-perswaded to Renounce the Truth, and thereupon was Released out of Prison. But it was not long before the Lord met with him for it: So as falling into horrible Torments of Conscience, he was near unto utter Despair, for preferring the Love of his Kindred, and Friends before the Service of Jesus Christ; neither could he possibly be freed from these Terrors before he had fully resolved to venture his Life more faithfully in the Service of Christ. Clark's Examples, p. 27.

4. About the Year 1541. There was one William Barber, Master of Art in Oxford, a Godly and Learned Man, that Disputed stoutly and accurately against the Doctrine of Transubstantia∣tion: Yet, through the Iniquity of the Times, was at last brought over to make a Recanta∣tion; after which, he never Prospered, but wore away with Grief and Sorrow till he died, Ibid.

5. In the Reign of Queen Mary, there was one Sir James Hales, Justice of the Common-Pleas, who though he had adventured his Life for Queen Mary, by refusing to Subscribe to her

Disinheriting by King Edward the VI's. Will; yet, for giving the Statutes in Charge against the Pope's Supremacy, &c. at the Sessions he was cast into Prison, and there so cruelly handled, and terrified with the apprehension of the Torments, which (they said) were preparing for him, that partly by the Flattery of the Bishops, and partly by their Threats, he was drawn to Recant. After which, he fell into such terrors of Conscience, that he attempted to kill himself with a Pen-knife; Yet, being by God's Providence prevented, and his Wounds he had given himself Cured, he was delivered out of Prison, and went home to his House; but neither could he have any inward Peace by reason of his Apostacy: But setting his House in Order, he drowned himself in a River not far from his Habitation. Ibid.

6. A. C. 1556. There was one Mr. Thomas Whittle, an Essex Minister, apprehended and carried before Bishop Bonner, by whom he was laid in the Porter's Lodge all night upon the bare ground: The next day the Bishop sent for him to his Chamber, and asked him many Questions about the Sacraments of the Altar, &c. to which Mr. Whittle returned such Answers as much anger'd the Bishop; whereupon he told him that he should return to Prison and be fed with nothing but Bread and Water; and not content with Threats, he fell upon him and beat him with his Fists, and then put him into a little Room, where he lay two Nights upon a Table; shortly after, the Bishop sent for him again, Flattered him, proffering him Articles cunningly drawn up, and at last prevailed with him to Subscribe them: But (said he) after I had done it, I had little Joy; for by and by my Conscience told me, by God's Word I had done Evil, by so slight a means to shake off the sweet Cross of Christ. Oh! the Crafty Subtilty of Satan in his Members. Let every Man whom God shall deliver into their Hands, take heed of them, and cleave fast to Christ: For they will leave no corner of his Conscience unsearched, but will attempt by all guileful and subtle means to corrupt him, and to cause him to fall from God and his Truth.

The Night after he had Subscribed he was greatly troubled, and through Affliction of Con∣science could not Sleep, neither could his Mind be eased till he had procured his Subscription, and tore out his Name. Being Condemned to be Burned, he thus said: My Mind, and Con∣science I Praise God, is now quiet in Christ; and I, by his Grace, am very willing and content to give over my Body to the Death for a Testimony of his Truth, and pure Religion, against Anti∣christ, and all his false Religion and Doctrine. Ibid. p. 28.

7. In Suffolk, among others there was one Peter Moon and his Wife, who were Charged for not coming to Church, and for neglecting other Popish Ceremonies. Moon was first Exami∣ned, Whether the Pope was not the Supreme Head of the Church? Whether the Queen were not the right Inheritrix of the Crown? Whether Christ's Body was not Really Present in the Sacrament, &c? and being of a timorous Disposition, he so answered as his Adversaries were sa∣tisfied. His Wife also, by his Example was drawn into the same Dissimulation, and so they were dismissed. But when they came home, and began to bethink themselves what they had done, they fell into such Trouble and Horror of Conscience, that they were ready wholly to Despair: And Moon seeing a Sword hanging in his Parlor, was tempted to have slain himself with it, which yet the Lord was pleased to prevent; and afterwards, upon their unfeigned Re∣pentance, to restore and comfort them. Ibid.

8. Sir John Check, who had been Tutor to King Edward VI. in the Reign of Queen Mary, was cast into the Tower, and kept close Prisoner, and put to this miserable choice; either to forego his Life, or that which was more precious, his Liberty of Conscience: Neither could his Liberty be procured by his great Friends, at any lower Rate, than to Recant his Religion. This he was very unwilling to accept of, till his hard Imprisonment, joyned with threats of much worse in case of his refusal, and the many large promises made upon his Submission, with what other means humane Policy could invent, wrought so upon him, whilst he consulted with Flesh and Blood, as drew from him an Abrenuntiation of that Truth which he had so long Professed, and still Believed: upon this, he was Restored to his Liberty, but never to his Comfort; for the Sense of, and Sorrow for his own Apostacy, and the daily sight of the cruel Butcheries exercised on others for their constant adherence to the Truth, made such deep Im∣pressions upon his broken Spirit, as brought him to a speedy, yet through God's Mercy and Goodness, to a comfortable end of his Miserable Life. A. C. 1557. ibid. p. 28.

9. There was one Ralph Allerton, who coming into his Parish Church of Bently in Essex, and finding the People idle, or ill imployed, he exhorted them to go to Prayers, and after he had read to them a Chapter out of the New Testament; for which, being Apprehended, he was carried before Bishop Bonner, who by his subtle perswasions and flatteries so prevailed with this poor Man, that he drew him to Recant his former Profession, and so dismissed him.

But this base Cowardice of his brought him into such Bondage and Terrors of Conscience, and so cast him down, that if the Lord had not been exceeding gracious unto him, he had Perished for ever: But the Lord looking upon him with the Eyes of Mercy, after he had Chastned, raised him up again; giving him not only hearty and unfeigned Repentance of his Back-sliding, but also a constant boldness to profess his Name and Gospel, even unto Death, ibid.

10. In the City of Bristol, there was one Richard Sharp, a Weaver, who being Apprehended for Religion, was carried before Doctor Dalby, the Chancellor, who, after he had Examined him about the Sacraments of the Altar, so wrought upon him by Perswasions, that he drew from him a promise to make a publick Recantation, and the time and place were appointed for it. But after this Promise, Sharp felt such an Hell in his Conscience, that he was not able to follow any Business; and he decayed in his bodily Health, and wholly lost his Colour. Where∣upon, on a Sabbath, going to his Parish-Church, he pressed to the Quire-door, and with a loud Voice, said: Neighbours, bear me Record that yonder Idol (pointing to the Altar) is the greatest and most abominable Idol that ever was; and I am sorry that ever I denied my Lord

God: For this he was carried to Prison, and Sealed the Truth with his Blood. Ibid. p. 29.

11. When Jerome of Prague came to the Council at Constance, they sent him to a Town, where they tied him fast to a great Block, and set his Legs in the Stocks, his Hands also being made fast unto them; the Block being so high that he could not possibly sit thereon, but his Head must hang downward; where also they allowed him nothing but Bread and Water. But within eleven days, hanging thus by the Heels, he fell very sick: Yet thus they kept him in Prison almost Twelve Months and then sent to him, requiring him to Recant, and to Subscribe that John Huss was justly put to Death; which he did, partly out of fear of Death, and ho∣ping to escape their hands. Yet they sent to Examine him again, but he refused to Answer, except he were brought in Publick before the Council: (and they presuming that he would openly confirm his former Recantation) sent for him, May 25. 1416. subborning False Witnesses to Accuse him: But he so learnedly cleared himself and refuted his Adversaries, that they were astonished at his Oration which he concluded with this; That all such Articles which Wickliff and Huss had written against the Enormities, Pomps, and Disorders of the Prelates, he would firmly Hold and Defend, even unto Death: And that all the Sins he had committed did not so much gnaw, and trouble his Conscience as did that most Pestiferous Act of his in Recanting what he had justly spoken, and to the consenting to the wicked Condemnation of Huss; and that he repented with his whole Heart that ever he did it. For this he was Condem∣ned and Burned. Ibid. p. 30.

12. Some of the Friends of Galcacius Garacciolus, Marquess of Vico, having promised to accompany him in his voluntary Exile; but afterwards looking back, and turning again to their Vomit, they were Apprehended and cast into the Inquisition, were they were forced publickly to Recant and to Abjure their Religion; and so they became the Subject of Misery and Infamy, and were equally Odious to both Parties. Ibid. p. 30.

13. Tho. Bilney, A. C. (1531.) of Cambridge, Professor of both Laws, Converted Thomas Arthur, and Mr. Hugh Latimer; but after, recanting his Principles, for the space of two years lived in great Anguish of Mind, and found no Rest till Repentance; and therefore, after∣wards Preached publickly that Doctrine which he had Abjured. Church Hist. Britan.

14. James Bainham, A Gentleman of the Middle Temple, being Imprisoned for his Reli∣gion, and Rack'd, Abjured his Principles, and had his Liberty; but he asked God and the World Forgiveness before the Congregation in those days, which was in a Ware-house in Bow-Lane, and immediately after he came to St. Austin's with the New Testament in his hand in English (and the Obedience of a Christian Man) in his Bosome, and there declared with Tears before the People, that he had denied God, and prayed the People to forgive, and beware of his Weakness. Ibid.

15. A. C. 1584. Francis Spira, living at Citadella, a Civil Lawyer, when he had received the Do∣ctrine of the Gospel and explained it among his Friends, being brought into Danger, after long deliberation on both sides, he publickly Renounced: But not long after fell into illness both of Body and Mind; and began to despair of the Mercy of God: Being brought from Citadella to Pa∣dua that he might make use of his Physicians, he received no Comfort; and scarce took any Meat to support Nature: Whereupon returning home (professing himself to be Condemned to Eternal Torments for Abjuring the known Truth) ended his Life Miserably. Thus for Sleidan in his Commentaries.

He that Writes the Story at large, adds, That he called for a Sword to dispatch himself with; that he professed, that his heart was estranged from God, saying, I cannot call him Father, from my heart: All good Motions are now quite gone; my heart is full of Malediction, Hatred, and Blasphemy against God. I find I grow more and more hardned in heart, and cannot stoop nor help my self: Your Prayers for me shall turn to your own benefit, but they can do me no good. When this Friend took his Leave of him, Spira said: Although I know that nothing can bring any benefit to me, a Reprobate, but that every thing shall tend to my deeper Condemnation: Yet I give you most hearty thanks for your kind Office of Love and Good will, and the Lord return it unto you with a plentiful encrease of all good.

As he was going down, he saw a Knife on a Table, and running to it, he snatched it up, therewith to have mischieved himself, but that his Friend prevented it; thereupon he said: I would I were above God, for I know that he will have no Mercy on me. He lay about eight weeks in this case, in a continual Burning, neither desiring, nor receiving any thing but by force, and that without Digestion; and was like an Anatomy, vehemently raging for Drink; ever Pining, yet fearful to live long, dreadful for Hell, yet coveting Death, in a continual Torment, yet his own Tormentor. And thus consuming himself with Grief and Horror, Impatience, and De∣spair, like a living Man in Hell, represented an extraordinary Example of God's Justice and Power; and thus he ended his miserable Life. See it more largely in the History it self.

16. Near akin to this is the Story of the second, Spira, published at London. 1692. though the early publication of it, together with the dreadful Contents, and the natural tenderness of Relatives and Countrey-men, and indeed the unwillingness of almost all People to believe things so full of Terror, rendred it to the apprehensions of some scarce credible: And my self, at Reading of it, wish'd it were not true; yet upon a serious and impartial Inquiry, I do firmly believe, that there is more Truth in it than will be granted by many of the present Generation. See the Narrative it self.

17. The Story of Nightingale is generally known, which Mr. Fox relates, how he fell out of his Pulpit and brake his Neck, whilst he was abusing that Scripture, 1 John 1.10.

18. A Copy of a Letter directed to me since I undertook this Work.

SIR,

FInding in one of the Mercuries a Proposal for Printing The Most Remarkable Providen∣ces, &c. I would, according to my weak Capacity, let you know, That sometime since, though not very long, a Neighbour dying, the News came while I was at Dinner; and one in Company said thus, We must all go, and none knows how soon: I, out of a scoffing way, made answer, I was sure I should live whilst I had eat the Meat I had. Before I had got one Bit of it in my Mouth, I was struck quite Senseless, and had much adoe to rise from the Table where I sate, and did not expect ever to think of telling my blasphemous Expression to any: But now meeting with a Work, which may be Profitable for all, but especially to young Ones, I am willing to attest this, the Truth of which some can testifie, as I in the Presence of the Almighty have wrote.

Your's, JOHN EREEVE.

London, June 4. 1695.

19. There was a Woollen-Draper in Warwick, who made a Profession of Religion, but many times brake out into scandalous Practices: Mr. Cartwright, on a time, walking with him in his Garden, dealt plainly and faithfully with him, rebuking him for his Miscarriages, and shew∣ing him the Dishonour that he brought to God, and the Gospel thereby. Which so wrought upon him, that he presently sunk down; and being carried home, died within a few Hours af∣ter. Mr. Clark in the Life of Mr. Cartwright.

20. One John ap Howel, in Queen Mary's Reign, standing by William Maudon, as he was reading in a Primer, at Greenwich, mocked him after every Word with contrary gaudy and flouting Expressions. Whereupon Maudon said to him, John, take heed what thou doest; thou mockest not me, but God in his Word, tho' I be simple that read it. Yet went he on in his Mock∣ing, till Maudon reading, Lord have Mercy upon us, Christ have Mercy upon us; the other with a Start said suddenly, Lord have Mercy upon me! With that Maudon, turning to him, said, What aileth thee, John? To which he answered, Nothing, but that he was afraid. Afraid! of What? saith Maudon. Nothing now, said the other. But presently after, he confessed, That at the reading of those Words, Lord have Mercy upon us, &c. the Hair of his Head stood an end with the great Fear that came upon him. On the next Day he ran Mad, was bound in his Bed, and lay continually Day and Night, crying out of the Devil of Hell, &c. Clark's Exampl. Vol. 1. c. 199.