An example for all those that make no conscience of swearing and forswearing shewing Gods heauy iudgement vpon a maid-seruant in London, who forswore her selfe, and now lies rotting in S. Bartholomewes Hospitall in Smithfield, where many resort daily to see her. To the tune of, Aime not too high.

An example for all those that make no conscience of swearing and forswearing ▪ 〈◊〉 Shewing Gods heauy Iudgement vpon a Maid-seruant in London , who forswore her selfe , and now lies rotting in S. Bartholomewes Hospitall in Smithfield , where many resort daily to see her . To the tune of , Aime not too high .

Lo wiicked swearers all example take , ●● they of God a mocking stocke do make , Although he sits in heauen and nothing sayes , yet he doth sée and marke our wicked wayes . He se●rches in the closet of our hearts , Where he suruayes our good and euill parts : The soule he made to be the bodies guide , That it should rule vs when we went aside . But when we let the Duill enter in , Who still doth tempt vs vnto wicked sin , Then grace is fled , and God on vs doth frowne , Who with a glory vs in heauen would crowne . Our soule must answer for our bodies déed , As in thesacred Scriptures you may read , 〈◊〉 euery sinner must receiue their hyre , Without Gods mercy in eternall fire , The Lord hath said , that he reuenge will take , Vpon such sinners as do him forsake : And t is most sure for God he will not lie , But vengeance take for our iniquity . 〈◊〉 late in London and in other parts , Swearers and lyers they haue felt his smarts , One that commited had an euill crime , 〈…〉 e forsweare it at the very time , And wisht that she might sinke into the ground , Or that bright heauen might her soule 〈…〉 and , yf she had done it , and did séeme to cry , And then the ground did open presently . Two others that the like had done in sight , Wisht that Gods Iudgement might vpon them light , And is it did , for straight they fell starke dead , The Lord aboue knowes where their souls are fled But now a Story to you I will shew , Of a poore wretch that is distrest in woe , That did the like , and did her selfe forsweare , Which sore example let each Christian heare . She being in an honest seruice plac't , Hath wrought her shame , & all her friends disgrac't , Did steale and pilfer many things away , Which now hath wrought her to this déepe decay , When things were mist , she did deny the same , And with great impudence , deuoyd of shame , Wisht before God and men that she might rot , It that such things she euer saw or got . Yet she to prison straight way wa● conuey'd , And presently before she long had laid : She did begin to rot , and stinke so sore , That they were forst to turne her out of dore . To Smithfield Hospitall she then was led . Where hundreds flocke to s●●● 〈◊〉 in her bed , Her toes and fingers do fal● 〈…〉 ●●d rot , With other ioynts , such is her heauy lot . The Surgeons striue to do their chiefest Art , And do apply their skill to euery part , But still she rots , her ioynts do fall away , And God knowes when , shall be her dying day .

SHe is repentant for her wicked sinne , Which in her former time she liued in , She cals to God for mercy euery day , And to the Lord most earnestly do pray . She doth confesse that she that fact did do , For which she now doth feele such griefe and wo : Wishing each seruant might example take , That she may be a warning for their sake . And all forsworen wretches in that kind . When then do , ill to beare her in their mind , For feare the Lord doth giue to them their hyre , As she did instly of our great God require . Gods mercie 's great when sinners do repent , When in their soule they truly do recent , Christ dy'd to saue those that the truth beléeue , And in his mērcy will them sure relieue . As I to hope that he will saue her souls , Although her crime was very bad and foule , For she repentant is , and craues for grace , And hopes in heauen to haue a resting plece . Could we but thinke of Gods all-séeing eyes , That nere were blind to our iniquities : Our earthly minds of heauen will haue a part , Our tongs would speake from trunesse of our heart Though we may thinke to blind the eyes of men , Committing sins , forswering them agen : Yet them at last our conscience shall report , Before a wiser Iu●●●●nd higher Court. Let no forswearer 〈…〉ke themselu●● 〈…〉re , Though with their only tongues t●●● 〈…〉 all 〈…〉 Oh let them not presume , but let 〈◊〉 know , Gods hand is heauy , though i● 〈…〉 t flow . Oh may this néedlesse swearing be forborne , Oathes are the plagues for which a land doth mourn Oh let vs mourne 〈◊〉 oathes , and mourne our fill , Oh may we do it now , not sweare we will . Wish not for euill falsly on thy brest , Thinking that God will spare with thée the rest , God pardons sins that no man might despaire , God scourges some , that all men may beware . Who knoweth whether himselfe the person be , That God will punish for iniquity : Oh with what face can men for mercy craue , That wish themselues ill , and their wishes haue . Gehezi did of Naaman once require , Gold , and two shifts of raiment for a hyre : They that will séeke for profit by a lye , Shall lose their gaines , and gaine a leprosie . Yet is the Lord to those that do conuert , More kind then our desire , or our desert : And in the midst of our iniquities , His Iudgement doth but go , his merce flyes , Looke downe , O Lord , on his distressed one , That doth not looke to thée but with a groane : And for her wisht affliction , if you please , Comfort her soule and giue her body ease . Or if the Iustice farther will porcéed , To punish her for her periorious déed : Lord grant her sins , may thr 〈…〉 be forgiuen , Giue her affliction here , her 〈…〉 ●●auen . Let seruants that are often pu● i● trust , Fly dealing false , and follow dealing inst: Although your ill got goods , may seeme full faire , Your seeming substance proues infectious ayre . H. I. FINIS .