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. CIII. Divine Judgments upon Atheism.

ATheism, and the Effects of it, are bidding an open Defiance to all the Powers of Heaven; so that 'tis no Wonder, if the Almighty, who resides there, and governs here, resents the Crime with a mere than or∣dinary Indignation. The most Renowned for Professed Ungodliness (saith Bishop Fotherby) are these: In Holy Writings, King Pharach, and Anti••••hus, the King of Tyre, and the Two He∣r••ds: in Ecclesiastical History, Caligula, Domitian, Maximinus, and Julian; in Profane History, Pr••tagoras, Diagoras, Theodoras, Socrates, Epicurus, Bion, Pherecides, and Dionysius. Of all whom, there was not one that cited in his Nest of a fair and kindly Death, saving only this last, whose Damnation yet slept not; but all the rest of them ended their Lives by the Stroke of God's Justice.

1. Julius Caesar suffered as an Atheist. Dr. Tenison.

2. There are a Sect of Atheists in Turkey, sprung up of late Years, called Muserin; i. e. The True Secr••t is with us: Which Secret is no other, than the absolute Denial of a Deity; that Na∣ture, or the Intrinsical Principle in every individual Thing, directs the ordinary Course, which we see and admire; and that the Heavens, Sun, Moon, and Stars, have thence their Original and Motion; and that Man himself riseth and fades like the Grass and Flower. It is strange to consider what Quantities there are of Men that maintain this Principle in Constantinople, most of which are Cadi's, and Learned Men in the Arabian Legends, and others are Renegado's from the Christian Faith, who, conscious of their Sin of Apostacy, and therefore desirous all Things may conclude with this World, are the more apt to entertain those Opinions which come nearest to their Wishes. One of this Sect, called Mahomet Effendi, a Rich Man, educa∣ted in the Knowledge of the Eastern Learning, I remember, was in my Time executed for im∣pudently proclaiming his Blasphemies against the Being of a Deity; making it, in his ordinary Discourse, an Argument against the Being of a God, for that either there was none at all, or else not so wise as the Doctors preached he was, in suffering Him to live that was the greatest Enemy and Scorner of a Divine Essence, that ever came into the World. And it is observable, saith my Author, That this Man might, notwithstanding his Accusation, have saved his Life, would he but have confessed his Error, and promised for the future an Assent to the Principles of a better: But he persisted still in his Blasphemies, saying, That tho' there were no Reward, yet the Love of Truth obliged him to die a Martyr. Mr. Ricaut's History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire, Book II. c. 12. p. 246.

A great Raja, a Gentile, a notorious Atheist, glorying to profess, That he knew no other God than the King, nor believing nor fearing any other Deity, fitting upon a time at dal∣liance with his Women, one of them plucked a Hair from his Breast, which being fast rooted, plucked off a little of the Skin, that the Blood appeared. This small Scar festred and gan∣greened incurably, so that in few Days he despaired of life; and being accompanied with his Friends, and divers Courtiers, he brake out into these excellent Words: Which of you would not have thought, that I, being a Man of War, should have died by the stroke of a Sword, Spear, or

Bow? But now I am enforced to confess the Power of that Great God, whom I have so long despised, that he needs no other Lance than a little hair, to kill so Blasphemous a wretch, and contemner of his Majesty, as I have been. Dr. Burthogge, out of Purchas, in his Essay upon Human Reason, p. 177.

Mr. Greenham, in his Works (which I have not now by me, and therefore cannot quote the particular Place and Page, as I should do) tells us, That a certain Man, not well grounded in his Religion, took view of the Papists Life, but not finding it so glorious as they pretended it was, joyned with the Familists, in whom he so stayed, that he grew into Familiarity with them; the first Principle, that there was no God, boyl'd so much in him, that he began to draw Con∣clusions, viz. If there be a God, he is not so Just and Merciful, as they say; if there be no God, then there is neither Heaven nor Hell; or if any, the Joys and Pains not so Eternal, as some have taught; why then do I sell my Pleasures in this World for uncertain Pleasures in another World? So this Devilish Illusion prevail'd on him to steal a Horse, for which he was Apprehended, and at last condemned: But by the Providence of God, meeting and conferring with a Godly Minister, was Reprieved till the next Assize, in hope of his Conversion. He con∣fessed himself an Atheist, but could not be brought any thing from his Atheism. The Assize following drew near, when he was to be executed, and the Place assigned: And at the Place of Execution, when he should be turned off the Ladder, cryed out directly, For Christ's sake stay my Life; whereupon he spoke these or the like words:

Well, let the World say what they will, doubtless there is a God, and the same God is Just for ever to his Enemies, and everla∣stingly keeps his Mercies with his Children.

Now turn me over. And so he made an end of his Speech, and of his Days. This Story I took down in Writing out of Mr. Greenham's Works Five or Six and Twenty Years ago; but not having the Book at present, I must deliver it with a Latitude, without particular Quotations. And 'tis the more credible, because Mr. Greenham (if my Memory fail me not extreamly) is character'd by Bishop Joseph Hall, for a Saint.

5. Mr. Mather, speaking of the Obstacles which Mr. Eliot met with in Preaching the Gospel to the Indians in New-England, tells us, That Elliot made a tender of the Gospel to King Philip, Ring-leader of the most calamitous War that ever the Pagan Indians made upon them; but Philip entertained it with Contempt and Anger, and after the Indian Mode, he took hold of a Button upon Mr. Eliot's Coat, adding, That he cared for his Gospel just as much as he cared for that But∣ton.

The World hath heard (saith my Author) what a terrible Ruine soon came upon that woful Creature, and upon all his People: It was not (saith he) long, before the Hand which now writes, upon a certain occasion took off the Jaw from the Blasphemous exposed Skull of that Leviathan; and the renowned Samuel Lee is now Pastor to an English Congre∣gation, sounding and shewing the Praises of Heaven, upon that very spot of Ground, where Philip and his Indians were lately worshipping the Devil.

Cotton Mather, in Mr. Eliot's Life, pag. 114.

6. Pope Leo the Tenth was so Impudent, as to make the Promises and Threats contained in the Word of God, things to be laughed at, mocking the simplicity of those that believe them: And when Cardinal Bembus quoted upon ocasion a place out of the Gospel; The Pope An∣swered, Quantum nobis profuit fabula haec de Christo? O, what Profit hath this Fable of Christ brought unto us? The Pope having by his Pardons and Indulgences scrap'd together vast Sums of Money to maintain his Courtezans and Whores, and to enrich his Bastards: As he was one day at Meat, News was brought to him of the Overthrow of the French in Lombardy, which he much rejoyced at, and doubled his Good Chear; but before he arose from the Table, God's Hand struck him with a grievous Sickness, whereof he died within three days. Clark's Mar. Chap. 9. p. 40.

7. Pope Julius the Third, another Atheist, a despiser of God and his Word; on a time missing a cold Peacock, which he had commanded to be kept for him, raged, and blasphemed God ex∣ceedingly; whereupon a Cardinal that was present, intreated him not to be so angry for such a Trifle: What, (saith he) if God was so angry for eating of an Apple, as to thrust Adam and Eve out of Paradise; should not I, who am his Vicar, be angry for a Peacock, which is of far more worth than an Apple?

8. Francis Ribelius was so Profane, that he made a mock at all Religion, counting it a thing to be laugh'd at: But the Lord struck him with Madness, so that he died mocking at all those that talked of God, or made any mention of God's Mercy to him.