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. CXIV. Divine Judgments upon Theft, Robbery, &c.

HE that hath taken so much care for the Security of our Estates and Possessions, as to make a Prohibition of Stealth one of the Commandments, bath taken care likewise to annex a Penalty to the same Law; and hath allowed us to kill a Night-Thief, without imputing it to us at the Sin of Murder, Exod. 22.2. And hath himself likewise appeared an Avenger of the Crime, as in the case of Achan, Ahab, &c. And besides, it may appear plain enough to any one, that makes any careful Remarks upon Divine Providence, that Ill-got Goods seldom prosper.

1. Draco, the Law-giver of Athens, appointed Death to be the Punishment of Theft. Solon mitigated that Rigour, and punished it with double Restitution. The Locrians put out his Eyes that had stolen ought from his Neighbour. The Hetrurians stoned them to Death. The Scy∣thians abhorred them more than all Creatures, because they had a Community of all Things, ex∣cept their Cups. The Vaccians used such Severity towards this kind of Men, that if one had but taken a Handful of Corn, he was sure to die for it. Beard's Theatr. p. 294.

2. Marcus Fabius being Censor, condemn'd his own Son, Buteo, to Death, being appre∣hended for Theft. Tiberius the Emperor, punished a Soldier after the same manner, for stealing a Peacock. In sum, there was no Commonwealth wherein this Sin was not highly detested, and sharply punished, except the Lacedoemonians, where it was permitted and tolerated, for their Exercise of Warlike Discipline. Ibid.

3. It was a rash and severe, yet as it proved, a just Deed of Tamberlain, that mighty Tyrant and Conqueror of Asia, when a poor Woman complained to him of one of his Soldiers, that had taken from her a little Milk, and a piece of Cheese, without payment: He caused the Sol∣dier's Belly to be ripped, to see whether she had falsly accused him, or no; and finding the Milk in his Stomach, adjudged him worthy of that Punishment, for stealing from so poor a Wo∣man. Ibid.

4. Ibicus, the Poet, being set upon by Thieves, when he saw that they would not only rob him of his Money, but of his Life also, he cryed for Help and Revenge, to the Cranes that flew over his Head. A while after, as these murdering Thieves sate together in the Market-place, the same Cranes appearing unto them in the Air, they whispered one another in the Ear, and said, Yonder fly Ibicus's Revengers. Which, tho' secretly spoken, yet was over-heard: So that they being Examined, and found Guilty, were put to Death for their Pains. The like Story Mar∣tin Luther reporteth, touching a Traveller; only differing in this, That as Cranes detected the former, so Crows laid open the latter.

5. In Georgia, a Thief is acquitted, paying Sevenfold what he hath stole; two Parts to the Party robbed, one to the Judges, and four to the King. If he hath not wherewith to satisfie, he is sold; if the Product do not yet equal the Summ, his Wife is sold; and if that will not do, his Children. Tavernier, l. 3. c. 9.

6. The great Mogul will himself sit as Judge, in Matters of Consequence that happen near him. They proceed in Tryals, Secundum allegata & probata. They punish Theft and Murder with Death, and what kind of Death the Judge pleaseth to appoint: Some are hanged, beheaded, empailed and put on Stakes, torn in pieces by wild Beasts, killed by Elephants, stung with Snakes. No Malefactors lie above one Night in Prison; sometimes not at all, but are speedily brought upon Tryal, and so to Execution. See my Book of all Religions.

7. The Chinese punish Murder and Theft with Death. Sir Tho. Herb. Their Justice is severe, their Prisons strong, and Executions quick.

8. The Japonese punish all manner of Theft with Death. Tavernier's Collect. p. 4.

9. A. C. 1659. At Brightling in Sussex, there was a stupendious and amazing piece of Provi∣dence: November the 7th. in the Evening, a Fire kindled in a Man's Milk-house; the 9th. Dust was thrown upon the Man and his Wife, as they lay in Bed together; next Morning, things were thrown about, and the Fire kindled again in the same Place, but put out by the Woman; then in the Eeves of the House, and put out by a Neighbour; a Pot broken on the Table with a piece of Brick; and as they were going to fill a Tub with Water, to set by them all Night, the Fire was kindled again in the Milk-house, and suddenly the whole House was on fire, but most of the Goods saved. The Fire was very white, and did not singe their Hands when they pulled things out of it. The Houshold-stuff was carried next Day to a Neighbour's House, and put in one end, the Family being in the other end; there Dust was thrown upon the Man and his Wife in Bed: At last, up riseth the Man, and with another accompanying him, with a Candle and Lanthorn in his Hand, went to Mr. Bennet, the Minister of the Town, and entreated him to go down with him. Accordingly He and his Brother went, prayed with them; and at first, Dust was thrown at them, but all quiet at Prayer: Afterwards the Minister reading Psal. 91. the Man standing by him to hold the Candle, somewhat presently beat out the Light; where∣upon the Man said, Some body else must hold the Candle. Presently a Knife was thrown at the Minister, which fell behind him; his Brother said that he saw it come: Then a Chopping-knife was thrown (it was supposed) at the Man's Wife. Whereupon the Man said, These things are thrown at others for my sake. At length he fell down upon his Knees, and confessed, That he had been an Hypocrite, and a Pilfering Fellow; and that he had Robbed his Master, &c. and he

was willing to separate the Things which he had taken wrongfully from the rest; and did ac∣cordingly, laying forth several things, which he said were none of his; naming the Persons from whom he had taken them. And as a great Chest was carrying forth, Trenchers, Platters, and other things were thrown about in so dreadful a manner, that one not much noted for Religion, said, Pray you, let us go to Prayer; and indeed that was their only Refuge, Praying, Reading, and Singing Psalms: And tho' divers things were thrown, as a Dish several times (which gave Mr. Bennet once a smart Blow on the Cheek) the Man's Boots, a Chopping-knife twice, Crabs out of a Tub standing in the midst of the Room, a Firebrand, a Hammer, and a Bible; yet at Prayer all was quiet. In the Morning, after Mr. Bennet and his Brother were come away, before they got home, they heard that the House was on fire. Mr. Bennet was thereupon sent for again; in the mean time they had carried away their Goods, pulled off the Thatch, and quench'd the Fire; yet it kindled again and again, till all th Man's Goods were carried out: And when these People (whose House was burnt down to the Ground) together with all their Goods, were removed into the Field, all was quiet in the second House; but some things were thrown in the Field, and some noise heard among the Houshold-stuff. Thus these poor Crea∣tures were distressed; their House burnt down, that to which they removed several times fired; and they with their Goods forced to lie in the open Fields for several Days and Nights together, being made a sad Spectacle to all sorts of People, that came far and near to see and hear of the Business. Afterwards a Fast-day was kept by four neighbouring Ministers, and Sermons preached on these Texts, Job 11.13. Amos 3.6. Luke 13.2, 3. Isa. 33.14, 15, 16. The Congregation was great, and the distressed Persons diligently attentive: After which, they were not at all troubled any more in that manner. See the Narrative written by Mr. Bennet, and published by Mr. Clark in his Examples, Vol. II. p. 594, &c.

See more of the Darbyshire Woman, that cozen'd a Boy of some Money, in the Chapter of Divine Judgments upon Cursing; and of John Duncalf, that stole a Bible, in the Chapter of Lying and Slandering.

Humane Judgments are so often inflicted in these Cases, and our Prisons are so loud with the Cries of poor guilty Malefactors, and the Gallows so conspicuous in every Country, that it is less necessary to enquire for particular Instances of Divine Vengeance.