NEver yet were any Nation or People so Barbarous , who by the Instinct of Nature have not alwaies believed a certain Deity ; and the denying thereof was accounted so detestable , absurd , and contrary to Humane Reason , even among the Antient Heathen , that they reckoned it to be horrible Blasphemy . The Athenians banished Protagoras both from their City and Country , and caused his Books to be openly burnt because in one of them he seemed to doubt of a Deity : ' Neither were they less severe toward Diagoras , sirnamed The Atheist , who being accused of Atheism , fled for fear of punishment ; upon which they proclaimed , That whosoever did kill him , should have a Talent of Silver in Recompence , which is as much as six hundred Crowns : How much more then is the State of Christendom to be lamented , which is generally infected with this Contagious Pestilence ? And how many bold and impudent Atheists are there in these Times , who daringly and confidently deny the Providence of God! believe not the Immortality of the Soul ! think there is no such thing as a Life to come ! and consequently they live like Swine and brute Beasts in the world , wallowing in all manner of Lusts and Sensuality ! But let such mad , and brutish Wretches know , that they shall one day be convinced of their folly , when it is too late : And they may likewise find by the following Instances , which are of undoubted truth and certainty , that the Divine Justice doth sometimes execute his severe Judgments upon them in this world , and makes them Monuments of Vengeance , for deterring others , That they may hear , and fear , and do no more so wickedly .

I. A certain Blasphemous Wretch being drinking and merry at a Common Inn , among his Companions , asked them , Whether they thought a man was possessed with a Soul , or no ? To which some replyed , That the Souls of Men were Immortal , and that some of them after their release from the Body , lived in Heaven , and others were condemned to Hell , as we are taught from the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles ; but he replyed , and swore , He did not believe the Soul did survive the Body , but that Heaven and Hell were meer Fables , invented by the Priests to get money ; and as for his part , he would sell his Soul to any who would buy it . Then one of his Companions took up the Cup , and said , Sell me thy Soul for this Cup of Wine , which he consented to , and drank it off : Now the Devil himself was there in the shape of a man ( as he is commonly not far from such Debauchees ) who bought it again of the other man at the same price ; and soon after peremptorily demanded his Soul ; the whole company affirming it was fit he should have it , since he bought it , not knowing who it was that asked it : But on a sudden this Infernal Merchant laid hold of this wretched Soul-Seller , and carried him into the Air before them all , toward his own Habitation , to the great astonishment and amazement of the Spectactors , and was never after heard of ; but no question found to his cost that men had Souls , and that Hell was no Fable , contrary to his prophane and sensless Opinion . Discipul . de temp. Serm. 132.

II. Not inferiour to the former was the Impiety of one not many years since in this Nation , called Marlin , a Scholar by Profession , brought up from his Youth in the University of Cambridge , and afterwards a scurrilous Poet , and Play-maker , who giving the Reins to his Wit and Fancy , ran into such Extreams , that he denied God , and Jesus Christ , and blasphemed the Trinity , not onely in words , but as it is credibly reported , writ Books against it , affirming our Saviour to be a Deceiver , and Moses a Seducer of the People , and the holy Scriptures to be but vain and idle Stories , and all Religion to be only a Politick Cheat and Device : But Heaven , by an eminent Judgment , stopt the mouth of this Blasphemer ; for it happened , that as he intended to have stabbed a person , whom he had malice against , the other perceiving it , avoided the stroke ; and withal catching hold of his wrist , he stabbed in his own Dagger into his own head , which wounded him in such a terrible manner , that notwithstanding all the help of Chirurgery , he died soon after , and that in a very sad condition ; for he cursed and blasphemed to the last gasp ; and his last breath passed out of his body with an horrid Oath , to the terrour of all that beheld him ; and herein did the Divine Justice remarkably appear , in that his own hand which had written those Blasphemies , was made an Instrument to punish that head and brain , which had wickedly devised them . Beards Theatre .

III. In the year 1527. A young Italian , esteemed a man very brave , and valiant in Arms , was to fight with another young man , who ( because he was melancholy , and spake very little ) was called Forchebene ; they went together with a great company to the Place appointed , which was without the Port of St. Gall ; whither being come , a friend to the former went to him , and said , God give you the Victory ; the proud young man adding blasphemy to his Temerity , answered , How shall he chuse but give it me : They came to use their weapons , and after many blows given and taken both by the one and the other ; Forchebene being become as the Minister and Instrument of God , gave him a thrust in the mouth , with such force , that having fastened his Tongue to the Poll of his Neck ( where the Sword went thorow , above the length of a Span ) he made him 〈…〉 , the Sword remaining in his Mouth , to the end that the Tongue which had so grievously offended , might even in this world endure punishment for so horrible a sin . L. Remys Consid. c. 59.

IV. Another of our own Nation is not to be overpassed , who for Atheism may be compared to the former , and for God's severe Judgment upon him , may give place to none : It was a Gentleman in Bark-shire , whose Name I forbear to mention ; This man had a great Estate , but was an open Scoffer , and Contemner of all Religion ; a profest Atheist , and a Scorner of the Word and Sacraments , insomuch that I have heard it very credibly reported , that being Witness to the Baptizing of a Child , he would needs have it named Beelzebub . He was likewise given to all manner of Debauchery , keeping several notorious Strumpets openly in his House , without shame : He was so accustomed to Swearing , that he could scarce speak without an Oath . This miserable Man ( or rather Brute ) having continued long in this damnable course of life , at last Divine Vengeance found him out , for going one day a hunting with one of his Companions : As they were discoursing of divers Idle Stories , it pleased Almighty God to strike him with sudden death ; for falling suddenly on the Crupper of his Horse , backward , he was taken off stark dead , with his Tongue hanging out of his Mouth , in a very fearful manner , and became a terrible Example of God's Justice against all wicked Atheists . Beards Theatre .

V. Cluverius , an Author worthy of credit , who professeth that he had this Relation , not only by hear-say , but from Eye-witnesses , who saw it , gives this wonderful Account , That in the Month of March , 1632 , there lived in the Borders of Muscovia a Noble-man , by Office a gatherer of Tribute , or Taxes , by name Albertus Peri●scius ; his manner was , when poor men could not presently pay their Taxes , to distrain upon their Cattle , and drive them to his own home : Now it came to pass , that this Noble-man being from home , lost all his unjust gains in one 〈…〉 for all his Cattle , both those he had taken by Violence , and what he had bought with his Money , suddenly dyed : This wretched man coming home , was told ● his Wife and Servants what a fearful Judgment from God was befallen him , whereat he began to rage and rave extreamly ; and taking his Musquet , shot it up against Heaven , breaking forth into these blasphemous speeches , Let him that killed my attle devour them ; If thou wouldest not let me eat them , eat them thy self : Upon these furious barkings against God , there fell some drops of blood , and this wicked man was turned into a black Dog , and howling , he ra● to the dead Cattle , and began to feed upon them ; and for ought I know ( saith mine Author , who wrote this story presently after ) is yet feeding upon them . His Wife great with Child , being astonished , and terrified with the strangeness of God's Judgments , shortly after died . Clark's Exam. 1 Part.

VI. Simon Churmay in 1201. having most subtilly and acutely disputed about the Trinity , some of his familiar friends persuaded him to put it into writing , that so the memorial of such excellent things might not be lost ; whereupon he proudly brake forth into this Atheistical speech , O Jesule , Jesule , &c. O little Jesus , little Jesus , how much have I confirmed and advanced thy Law in this Question ! but if I had a mind to deal crosly , I know how with stronger Reasons and Arguments to weaken and disprove the same : Which was no sooner spoken , but he was strucken dumb ; and not only so , but he became an Ideot , and ridiculously foolish , and was made a common hissing and mocking-stock to all that saw him . Mat. Paris . Not much unlike this , is that of Michael , a blasphemous Jew , who as he was banquetting with his Companions , fell to blaspheming Christ , and his Mother , boasting , That he had gotten the Victory over the Christians God ; but as he went down Stairs out of the Room , he fell down , and brake his Neck . Fincelius . Miserable was the end of Perieres , who writ a blasphemous Book , wherein he openly mocked at God , and all Religion ; for he fell into most desperate despair ; and notwithstanding strict watch was kept about him , yet he killed himself 〈…〉 the year 1502. there lived one Hermanus Biswick , a Grand Atheist , and a notable Instrument of the Devil , who affirmed , That the World never had a beginning , as foolish Moses dreamed ; and that there were neither Angels , nor Devils , nor Hell , nor future a Life , but that the Souls of Men perished with their Bodies ; and that Jesus Christ was nothing else but a Seducer of the People ; and that the Faith of Christians , and whatever else was contained in the Holy Scriptures , was meer vanity . These Opinions full of Atheism and Impiety he was so hardened in , that he constantly avouched them to the death , and was for the same , together with his Books , deservedly burnt in Holland . Theat. Hist .

VII . A certain Rich man at Halterstadt in Germany , abounding with all manner of worldly happiness , he gave up his whole Soul in delighting therein ; so that he had no sense of Heaven or Religion ; yea , he was so Atheistical as to say , That if he might lead such a life continually upon the Earth , he would not envy those that enjoyed Heaven , ner desire to exchange his condition with them : But soon after it pleased God , contrary to his expectation , to cut him off by death , and so the pleasures which he doated on came to an end . But after his death there were seen such Diabolical Apparitions in his House , that no man durst inhabit it , so that it became desolate : For every day there appeared the Form of this Epicure , sitting with a great many Guests , drinking , carousing , and making good Cheer ; the Table being furnished seemingly with all manner of Delicacies , and attended on by many Persons , together with Fidlers , Trumpeters , and the like ; so that whatever he delighted in while he was alive , was there daily to be seen ; God permitting Satan to deceive mens sight by such Appearances , to deter others from living in such a course of Atheism and Impiety . Theat. Hist .

VIII . At a Village called Benarides in Spain , two young men ( one whereof was noted to be an outragious Swearer , and Blasphemer of God's Holy Name ) being together in the Fields , on a sudden there arose a terrible Tempest of Rain and Wind , accompanied with so impetuous a Whirlwind , that it amazed all that beheld it ; the two young men seeing it furiously coming toward them , to avoid the danger ran away as fast as they could possible ; but notwithstanding their haste , it overtook them , and for fear it should carry them up into the Air , they fell flat down upon the ground , where the Whirlwind whilked about them for some time , and then passed forward ; one of them arose so affrighted , and in such an Agony , that he was scarce able to stand on his feet ; the other lying still without motion , some that stood under an hedge hard by , came to see how he did , and found him to be stark dead , not without some wonderful symptoms of Divine Justice ; for all his bones were so crushed , that the Joynts of his Legs and Arms were to be turned every way , as though his whole Body had been made of Moss ; and besides , his Tongue was pluckt out by the roots , and could not by any means be found , though it was diligently sought for ; and this was the miserable end of this wretched youth , who was made an Example to the World , of God's Vengeance against Swearers and Blasphemers . Beards Theatre .

IX . Mirtiques , Governour of Brittany in France , in the War against the Protestants , persuaded them to yield to the King , since their strong God had now forsaken them , and scoffingly said , It was time for them to sing , Help us now O Lord , for it is time , but he soon found that their strong God was able to defend them , and to confound the Proud ; he himself being presently after slain in the Siege . Acts & Mon. Remarkable is the Relation of one Libanius , who was a Sophistical Atheist ; he being at Antioch , demanded blasphemously of a Learned and Religious Shoolmaster , What the Carpenters Son did , and how he employed himself ? To whom the Schoolmaster , full of the Divine Spirit , replyed , The Creator of the World , whom thou disdainfully callest the Carpenters Son , is making a Coffin for thee , to carry thee to thy Grave ; at which the Sophister laughing , went away , and within few daies after died , and was buried in a Coffin , according to the Prophecy of that Holy Man . Beards Theatre . In the 〈…〉 an Arrian Bishop , called Olympius , being in the Baths of Carthage , openly scoffed , and blasphemed the Holy and Sacred Trinity ; but Lightning fell down from Heaven upon him three times , wherewith he was burnt and consumed to Ashes . There was also in the time of Alphonsus , King of Arragon and Sicily , in an Isle toward Africa , a certain prophane Hermite , called Antonius , who impudently and impiously belched out blasphemous speeches against our Blessed Saviour , and the Virgin Mary his Mother , but he was struck with a most grievous and tormenting Disease , so that he was eaten and gnawn to pieces with Worms till he died , Aeneas Sylvius .

X. Neither hath Divine Vengeance left itself without witness against Cursers , and those who by denying God give themselves to the Devil ; as may plainly appear ●y the following dreadful Examples . A Souldier travelling through Marcia , a Country of Almaign , and finding himself not well , went to an Inn , where he lay , to recover his health , and delivered to his Hostess a certain sum of money , which he had about him : A while after being recovered of his Sickness , he demanded his money again , but the Woman , upon consultation with her Husband , denied the receipt of any , and accused him of wronging her , in demanding what she never received : On the other side , the Souldier was much enraged , accusing her of cheating him ; when the Man of the House heard the noise , though he was privy to all before , yet he dissembling the matter , took his Wife's part , and thrust the Souldier out of doors ; who seeing himself thus abused , drew his Sword , and ran against the door with the point thereof , whereat the Host began to cry out , Thieves , Thieves , affirming , that he would have entred his House by force , and have robbed him ; whereupon the poor Souldier was taken , and cast into Prison , and by process of Law , was ready to be condemned to death ; but the very day wherein this heavy Sentence was to be pronounced , and Executed , the Devil entred into the Prison , and told the Souldier , That he was condemned 〈…〉 dye ; nevertheless , if he would give himself , Body and Soul to him , he would promise to deliver him out of their hands : The Prisoner replyed , That he had rather dye , being innocent , and without cause , than to be delivered upon that account . The Devil then represented to him the great danger of death wherein he was , and used all manner of craft to delude him ; but finding all his Arguments uneffectual , he at length left his suit , but yet promised him both assistance , and revenge upon his Enemies for nothing ; advising him when he came to his Tryal , he should plead not guilty , and declare his innocence , and the wrong which he suffered , and to entreat the Judge to grant him the favour , That one in a Blew Cap , who was in the Court , might make his Defence for him ; ( now this one in the Blew Cap , was the Devil himself . ) The Souldier accepted his offer , and being called to the Bar , and Indicted of Felony , he presently desired to have his Attorney , who was there present , to plead his Cause ; which being granted him , this witty crafty Lawyer began very cunningly to defend his Client , affirming him , To have been falsly accused , and consequently would be unjustly condemned , and that his Host did withhold the money , and had offered him violence ; and to demonstrate the Truth of what he asserted , he reckoned up every Circumstance of the whole Action ; yea the very place where they had hid they money . The Host on the other side very impudently denied all , wishing withal , That the Devil might take him Body and Soul if he had : This subtil Attorney in the Blew Cap , finding now the advantage which he had hitherto looked for , left off his pleading , and immediately seizing upon the Host , carryed him out of the Sessions-House , and hoisted him into the Air so high , that he was never after seen nor heard of . And thus was the Souldier wonderfully delivered from death , to the astonishment of all the Beholders , who were Eye-witnesses of this terrible Judgment upon this perjured , cursing Host . Wierus of Spirits , lib. 3.

XI . Luther in his Exposition upon the Corinthians , gives this Relation ; That a certain debauched Person , of a very wicked Life , and of such evil Education , that at every word he spake almost , the Devil was in his mouth ; for which practice , though he was often reproved by his Neighbours , and exhorted to correct and amend so vile and detestable a Custom , yet it was all to no purpose : Continuing therefore in this damnable practice , it happened , that as he was one time passing over a Bridge , he fell down , and in his fall , he cryed out , Hoist up with an hundred Devils , which he had no sooner uttered , but the Devil , whom he had called for so oft , was at his Elbow , who presently strangled him , and carryed him away with him .

John Wierus gives an Account also to this purpose , That in the year 1551. at Megalopole , near Voildstat , it happened , that the People being drinking and carousing at Whitsuntide , a Woman in the company commonly named the Devil in her Oaths , till he that had been called upon so often , came on a sudden , and carried her thorow the Gate aloft into the Air , before all the company , who ran out in great astonishment , to see whether he would transport her , and observed her hanging in the Air without the Town ; and then falling down on the ground , they found her stark dead . Wierus .

XII . The same Author affirms , That about this time there dwelt in a City of Savoy , a man who was of a very vicious conversation , and likewise a monstrous Swearer , who put many good men to much fruitless pains in admonishing and reproving him for his wicked behaviour ; for he would give no ear to them , nor in the least reform his waies ; now it happened that the Plague was in the City , and he was infected therewith ; and therefore himself , his wife & kinswoman withdrew themselves apart into a Garden-house that he had ; yet in this his Extremity did not the Ministers forsake him , but continually exhorted him to Repentance , and to discover to him his grievous Offences ; but he was so far from being moved with these Religious Admonitions , that he seemed daily more and more to harden himself in his ill course of life ; therefore hastening his own destruction , it happened one day as he was swearing , denying God , and giving himself to the Devil , and calling for him with horrid vehemency ; behold the Devil appeared , and suddenly snatching him up , carryed him into the Air ; his wife and kinswoman looking on , and seeing him fly over their heads : In this his swift transportation , his Cap fell off his Head , and was found at Rosne , but himself was never after seen , nor heard of . The Magistrate being advertised hereof , came to the place where he was taken up , to be better informed of the Truth , and took the Depositions of the two Women upon Oath , of what they had seen . By this we may see the terrible , yet just Vengeance of God upon such Wretches ; and it may be a warning to those who are so inspired by Satan , that they cannot speak but they must name him , who is both an Enemy to God and Man , instead of commending themselves to God , and praying for his Grace and Assistance . John Wierus de Spirit .

XIII . Martin Luther in his Table-talk mentions this Remarkable History : There was a Popish Priest , who had formerly been a Protestant , and Apostatized to Popery , as Adam Budissina testifies : This Priest thundered out most bitter curses against Luther in the Pulpit , Preaching at a Town called Ruthnerwald ; and among the rest he wished , That if Luther's Doctrine were true , a Thunderbolt might strike him to death : Now about three daies after there arose a mighty Tempest with Thunder and Lightning , whereat this cursed Priest was extreamly afraid , his guilty conscience accusing him , that he had spoken falsly and maliciously against the Truth , and thereupon he ran with all speed into the Church , and there fell to his Prayers before the Altar ; but the Vengeance of Heaven found out his Hypocrisie ; for he was there struck with Lightning ; and though they with much difficulty recovered life in him , yet as he was led homeward through the Church-yard , another flash fell upon him in such a manner , that he was burnt from the crown of the head , to the sole of the foot , as black as a Shoe , dying with a manifest mark of Divine Justice upon him . Luthers Col. Men.