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. CXLVI. Remarkable Instances of Sudden Death.

WHO will not stand upon his Guard against the Efforts of Death, that threaten us every Hour, who has appointed no time when he intends to meet us? He creeps, flies, leaps upon us, with a tacit motion, a stealing pace, making no signs before-hand, without any cause, without any caution, in-sickness, in health, in danger, in security; so that there is nothing sacred or safe from his clutches. No Man (says the Re∣verend Mr. Veal, in his Sermon concerning the Danger of a Death-bed Repentance) knows the time of his Death, any more than the manner of it, or means by which it shall be brought about. Our breath is in God's hands, Dan. 5.23. No Man hath a Lease of his Earthly Tabernacle, but is Tenant at Will to his Great Landlord. Who knows when he shall die, or how? Whether a Natural Death, or a violent one? To how many thousand unforeseen Accidents are Men subject? Not only Swords and Axes may dispatch them, but God can Commission Infects and Vermin to be the Executioners of his Justice upon them. A great Prelate may be eaten up of Mice (Hatto, Archbishop of Mentz) and a Patent Prince devoured by Worms, Acts 12.23. And who doth not carry the Principles of his own Dissolution perpetually within him? Death lies in Ambush in every Vein, in every Member, and none know when it may assault them. It doth not always warn before it strikes. If some Diseases are Chronical, others are Acute and less lingring, and some are as quick as Lightning, kill in an instant. Men may be well in one moment, and dead in the next. God shoots his Arrows at them, they are suddenly wounded, Psal. 64.7. How many are taken away not only in the midst of their days, but in the midst of their sins? The lusting Israelites with the flesh between their teeth, Numb. 11.33. Julian (if Historians speak truth) with Blasphemy in his mouth; and how many frequently with the Wine in their heads? In such cases what place, what time for Repentance, for seeking it, for using means to attain it, when they have not room for so much as a thought of it? Thus far Mr. Veal. I now proceed to Instances of Sudden Death.

Sound and merry was Tarquin, when he was choaked with a Fish-bone. Healthy also was Fabius, when a little Hair that he swallowed with his Milk, cut the Thread of his Life. A Weezel bit Aristides, and in a moment of time he expired. The Father of Caesar the Dictator, rose well out of his Bed, and while he was putting on his Shooes he breathed his last. The Rhodian Embassador had pleaded his Cause in the Senate even to Admiration, but expired going over the Threshold of the Court-house. A Grape-stone killed Anacreon the Poet, and if we may believe Lucian, Sophocles also. Lucia, the Daughter of Marcus Aurelius, died with a littie prick of a Needle. Cn. Brebius Pamphilus, being in his Pretorship, when he asked the time of the Day of a certain Youth, perceived that to be the last hour of his Life. The Breath of many is in haste, and unexpected Joy expels it. As we find it happened to Chilo the Lacedaemonian, and Diagoras of Rhodes, who embracing their Sons, that had been Victors at the Olympick Games, at the same time, and in the same place presently expired. Lastly, Death has infinite accesses, through which he breaks into our Houses. Sometimes through the Windows, sometimes through the Vaults, sometimes through the Copings of the Wall, sometimes through the Tyles; and if he cannot meet with any Traytors either in the City, or in the House; I mean, the Humours of the Body, Diseases, Catarrhs, Pleurisies, and the like, which he makes use of as Ministers in his Councils; he tears up the Gates with Gunpowder, Fire, Water, Pestilence, Venom, nay, Wild Monsters, and Men themselves as bad; he leaves no Engines untryed to snatch and force away our Lives.

Mephibosheth, the Son of Saul, was slain by Domestick Thieves as he was sleeping at Noon upon his Bed. Fulco, King of Jerusalem, as he was Hunting a Hare, fell from his Horse, and was trampled to Death by his hoofs, and so gave up the Ghost. Josias, of all the Kings of Judah, David excepted, for Piety, Sanctimony, and Liberality the chief, was unexpectedly wounded with an Arrow, and died in his Camp. The Holy Ludovicus in the 57th. Year of his Age, upon the African Shore, in the midst of his Army, the Pestilence there raging, died of the Distemper. Egillus, King of the Goths, a most Excellent Prince, was killed by a Mad Bull, which the madder People, not enduring the severity of his Laws, had let forth. Malcolm the First, King of Scotland, after many Examples of Justice, while he was taking Cognizance of the Actions of his Subjects by Night, was on a sudden suffocated. Have not many gone well to Bed, that have been found dead in the Morning? Of necessity the Soul ought to stand upon its Guard. Ʋzza, a Person of no small Note in David's Lifeguard, when he attempted to stay the shogging Ark, as it was carried in Triumph to Jerusalem, was presently struck from Heaven, so that he died by the Ark. The hand of God armed a Lion out of a Wood against the Prophet, that had eaten contrary to his Command. The sudden voice of Peter compelled Anazias and Saphira to expiate their Crime by as sudden a Death, whose Souls, the greatest part of Divines believe to be freed from Eternal Punishment thereby. But enough of Ancient Examples.

Charles the Eighth of France having concluded a Marriage between his Daughter Magdalene and Ladislaus, King of Bohemia, while the Bride with great Pomp was conveyed towards her intended Husband, he was taken suddenly with Sickness and died. Chetwind's Hist. Collections.

In the Year 1559. Henry the Second, King of France, was slain in the midst of his Pastimes and Triumphs, and in publick Joy of the People. For while he Celebrated the Nuptials of his Daughter at Paris, in a Tilting, the Splinter of a broken Lance flew with such violence, and pierced his Eye, that he died immediately. In the Year 1491. Alphonsus, the Son of John the Second, King of Portugal, being about Sixteen Years of Age, a Prince of great Hopes and

Wit, took to Wife Isabella the Daughter of Ferdinand King of Spain, whose Dowry was the ample Inheritance of her Father's Kingdoms. The Nuptials were celebrated with the pre∣parations of Six Hundred Triumphs. Plays, Running; Racing, Tilting, Banquets. So much Plenty, so much Luxury, that the Horse-boys and Slaves glistered in Tissue. But, oh immense Grief! hardly the Seventh Month had passed, when the young Prince, sporting a Horse-back upon the Banks of Tagus, was thrown from his Horse to the Ground, so that his Scull was broken, and he wounded to Death. He was carried to a Fisher's House, scarce big enough to contain him and two of his Followers; there he lay down upon a Bed of Straw, and expired. The King flies thither, with the Queen his Mother: There they behold the miserable Specta∣cle; their Pomp turn'd into Lamentation: The growing Youth of their Son, his Vertues, Wealth, like Flowers on a sudden disrobed by the North-winds blast, and all to be buried in a miserable Grave. O the sudden Whirlwinds of Human Affairs! O most precipitate Falls of the most constant Things!

What shall I remember any more? Basilius the Emperor was gored to death by a Hart, while he was entangled in a troublesome Bough. The ancient Monument in the Camp of Am∣brosius, near Aenipontus, witnesses, That a Noble Youth, though under Age, set Spurs to his Horse, to make him leap a Ditch twenty foot broad. The Horse took it; but the Rider and the Horse fell by a sudden, and almost the same kind of death. That the Spoils of the Horse, and the Garments of the Youth, speak to this Day.

But this sudden Fate is common, as well to the Good as to the Bad; neither does it argue an unhappy Condition of the Soul, unless any Person in the Act of burning Impiety, feel him∣self struck with the Dart of Divine Vengeance. Such was the Exit of Dathan and Abiram, whom the gaping Earth miserably swallowed up, obstinate in their Rebellion against Moses. Such was the End of those Soldiers, whom; for their Irreverence to Elijah, Heaven consumed with Balls of Fire. Such was the End of the Hebrew, whom the Revengers Sword pass'd tho∣rough, finding him in the Embraces of the Midianitess, turning his Genial into his Funeral Bed.

So many Pores of the Body, so many little Doors for Death. Death does not shew himself always near, yet is he always at hand. What is more stupid, than to wonder that that should fall out at any time, which may happen every Day? Our Limits are determined where the in∣exorable necessity of Fate has fix'd them. But none of us knows how near they are prefixed. So therefore let us form our Minds, as if we were at the utmost extremity. Let us make no Delay.

Death has infinite accesses. So it is indeed; and to what I have said, I add: It is reported, that a certain Person dream'd, that he was torn by the Jaws of a Lion. He rises, careless of his Dream, and goes to Church with his Friends: In the way, he sees a Lyon of Stone gaping, that upheld a Pillar. Then declaring his Dream to his Companions, not without Laughter; Behold, said he, this is the Lyon that tore me in the Night. So saying, he thrust his Hand into the Lyon's Jaws, crying to the Statue, Thou hast thy Enemy; now shut thy Jaws, and, if thou canst, bite my Hand. He had no sooner said the Word, but he received a deadly Wound in that place where he thought he could have no harm; for at the bottom of the Lyon's Mouth lay a Scorpion, which no sooner felt his Hand, but he put forth his Sting, and stung the young Man to death. Are Stones thus endued with Anger? Where then is not Death, if Lyons of Stone can kill? In the same manner died the young Hylas, who was kill'd by a Viper that lay hid in the Mouth of a Bear's resemblance in Stone.

What, shall I mention the Child kill'd by an Isicle dropping upon his Head from the Pent∣house? whom Martial laments in the following Verses.

Where next the Vipsan Pillars stands the Gate, From whence the falling Rain wets Cloak and Hat, A Child was passing by, when, strange to tell, Ʋpon his Throat a frozen drop there fell, Where, while the Boy his cruel Fate bemoan'd, The tender point straight melted in the Wound. Would Chance have us adore her lawless Will? Or tell where Death is not, if Drops can kill?

'Tis the Saying of Annaeus: Uncertain it is, saith he, in what place Death may expect thee; therefore do thou expect Death in every place.

We trifle, and at distance think the Ill, While in our Bowels Death lies lurking still: For in the moment of our Birth-day Morn, That moment Life and Death conjoin'd were born; And of that Thread, with which our Lives we measure, Our Thievish Hours still make a rapid ••••••∣zure. Insensibly we die; so Lamps expire, When wanting Oil, to feed the greedy Fire. Though living still, yet Death is then so nigh, That oft-times as we speak, we speaking die.

Senccio Cornelius, a Roman Knight, a Man of extream Frugality, no less careful of his Patri∣mony than of his Body, when he had sate all Day, till Night, by his Friend sick a Bed, beyond all Hopes of Recovery, when he had Supp'd well and cheary, was taken with a violent Distemper, the Quinsey, scarcely retained his Breath within his contracted Jaws till Morning; so that he de∣ceas'd within a few Hours, after he had performed all the Duties of a sound and healthy Man.

What follows, is extracted from Mr. Increase Mather's Book of Remarkable Providences.

I Shall only add (says he) at present, That there have been many sudden Deaths in this Countrey, which should not pass without some Remark: For when such Strokes are multiplied, there is undoubtedly a speaking Voice of Providence therein. And so it hath been with us in New-England, this last Year, and most of all the last Summer. To my Observation, in August last, within the space of three or four Weeks, there were twelve sudden Deaths, (and it may be others have observed more than I did) some of them being, in respect of sundry Cirrumstances, exceeding

awful. Let me only add here, that sudden Death is not always a Judgment unto those who are taken out of an evil World: It may be a Mercy to them, and a Warning unto others, as the sudden Death of the Prophet Ezekiel's Wife was. Many, of whom the World was not worthy, have been so removed out of it. Moses died suddenly; and so have some excellent Persons in this Countrey done. Governour Eaton, at New-Haven; and Governour Hains, at Hartford, died in their Sleep, without being sick. That Excellent Man of God, Mr. Norton, as he was walking in his House in this Boston, was taken with a Syncope, fell down dead, and never spake more.

Nor is there any Rule or Reason for Christians to pray absolutely against sudden Death. Some Holy Men have, with submission to the Will of the most High, desired and prayed for such a Death. So did Mr. Capel, and God gave him his Desire; for on September, 21. 1656. having Prea∣ched twice that Day, and performed Religious Duties with his Family, he went to Bed, and died immediately. The like is reported by Dr. Fuller, in his Church History, concerning that Angesical Man, Mr. Brightman, who would often pray, (if God saw fit) that he might die ra∣ther a sudden than a lingring Death; and so it came to pass: For as he was travelling in the Coach with Sir John Osborne, and reading of a Book (for he would lose no time) he was taken with a Fainting Fit; and though instantly taken out in the Arms of one there present, and all means possible used for his Recovery, he there died, August 24. 1607. The Learned and Pious Wolfius (not the Divine, who has written Commentaries on several Parts of the Scriptures; but he that published Lectionum Memorabilium & Reconditarum Centenarios) on May 23. 1600. being in usual Health, was, after he had Dined, surprised with a sudden illness, whereof he died within a few Hours. That Holy man, Jacobus Faber, who did and suffered great things for the Name of Christ, went suddenly into the silent Grave: On a Day, when some Friends came to visit him, after he had courteously entertained them, he laid himself down upon his Bed, to take some Repose; and no sooner shut his Eyes, but his Heaven-born Soul took its flight into the World of Souls.

The Man, who being in Christ, shall always be doing something for God, may bid Death Welcome, when ever it shall come, be it never so soon, never so suddenly. Thus far Mr. Mather.

God who is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek him, was pleased to give a Quietus est to the Reverend Mr. Hurst, suddenly taking him from his Work, to receive his Wages, advancing him from the Pulpit to the Throne, (April 14. 1690.) as he did the laborious Bishop Jewel, (who was first of the same Merton College in Oxford) in somewhat alike manner, from preach∣ing at Lacock in Wiltshire; (now near an Hundred and twenty Years since) who had said to a Gen∣tleman disswading him from preaching then, It did best become a Bishop to die preaching (or stand∣ing) in the Pulpit, seriously thinking of that comfortable Elogy of his Lord and Master (which you heard our Preacher chose for his Text at the Interment of Mr. Cawton) Happy art thou, my Servant, if when I come I find thee doing. Mr. Wells, and Mr. Pledger, were (if I mistake not) both struck with sudden Death on the Lord's-Day. An Ingenious Poet of our own, said in his Jambicks of the excellent Mr. Vines, who went to his eternal Rest the Night after his Preaching and Administring the Lord's Supper, (the beginning of March, 1655.) Abit, (beata Mors!) Modis oportet hisce Episcopum mori. And another then, to the same purpose, in our Mother Tongue wrote also:

Our English Luther, Vines (whose Death Iweep) Stole away (and said nothing) in a Sleep: Sweet like a Swan, he Preach'd that Day he went, And for his Cordial, took a Sacrament. Had it but been suspected—he would die, His People sure had stopp'd him with a Cry.

But his Hour was then come; and so was that of the famous Mr. Hollingworth at Manchester, who when at a Fast in Praying and Preaching he had as far outdone himself that Day, as he used to outdoe other Ministers, chang'd his Habitation here for a better (having done his Work) upon the irresistable Stroke of a deadly Apoplexy. So was that (as I have heard) of the holy Mr. Ambrose. So that of the laborious and much-followed Mr. Watson, and we know lately of our Brother Mr. Oakes, carried out of the Pulpit: As was the Learned and Pious Professor, Dr. Joshua Hoyl, out of the University Pulpit in Oxford. Death which came to him was in hast, and made quick dispatch; it gave one blow, and down he fell.

Mr. Thomas Gouge died (says Archbishop Tillotson, who preach'd his Funeral Sermon) in the 77th. Year of his Age, Octob. 29th. 1681. It so pleased God (adds this Great Author) that his Death was so sudden, that in all probability he himself hardly perceiv'd it when it happen'd; for he died in his Sleep. So that we may say of him, as it is said of David: After he had served his Generation, according to the Will of God, he fell asleep. I confess (continues our Author) that a sudden Death is generally undesirable, and therefore with Reason we pray against it, because so very few are sufficiently prepared for it. But to him, the constant Employment of whose Life was the best Preparation for Death, that was possible no Death cou'd be sudden, nay it was rather a Favour and Blessing to him; because, by how much the more sudden, so much the more easie: As if God had designed to begin the Reward of the great Pains of his Life, in an easie Death. And indeed it was rather a Translation than a Death, and saving that his Body was left behind, what was said of Enoch may not unfitly be applied to this Pious and Good Man, with respect to the suddenness of his Change, He walked with God, and was not, for Good took him. See his Funeral Sermon.