Christian ethics -- Fiction; Christian fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction
I will tell you another story. [Picture: Take note symbol] An ancient
man, one of mine acquaintance, a man of good credit in our Countrey,
had a Mother that was a Midwife: who was mostly imployed in laying
great persons. To this womans house, upon a time, comes a brave
young Gallant on horseback, to fetch her to lay a young Lady. So she
addresses herself to go with him; wherefore, he takes her up behind
him, and away they ride in the night. Now they had not rid far, but
the Gentleman litt off his horse, and taking the old Midwife in his
arms from the horse, turned round with her several times, and then set
her up again; then he got up, and away they went till they came at a
stately house, into which he had her, and so into a Chamber where the
young Lady was in her pains: He then bid the Midwife do her Office, and
she demanded help, but he drew out his Sword and told her, if she did
not make speed to do her Office without, she must look for nothing but
death. Well, to be short, this old Midwife laid the young Lady, and a
fine sweet Babe she had; Now there was made in a Room hard by, a very
great Fire: so the Gentleman took up the Babe, went and drew the coals
from the stock, cast the Child in, and covered it up, and there was an
end of that. So when the Midwife had done her work, he paid her well
for her pains, but shut her up in a dark room all day, and when night
came, took her up behind him again, and carried her away, till she came
almost at home; then he turned her round, and round, as he did before,
and had her to her house, set her down, bid her Farewell, and away he
went: And she could never tell who it was.
This Story the Midwifes son, who was a Minister, told me; and also
protested that his mother told it him for a truth.
Atten. Murder doth often follow indeed, as that which is the fruit
of this sin: but sometimes God brings even these Adulterers, and
Adulteresses to shameful ends. [Picture: Take note symbol] I heard of
one, (I think, a Doctor of Physick) and his Whore, who had had three
or four Bastards betwixt them, and had murdered them all, but at last
themselves were hanged for it, in or near to Colchester. It came out
after this manner: The Whore was so afflicted in her conscience abort
it, that she could not be quiet untill she had made it known: Thus
God many times makes the actors of wickedness their own accusers, and
brings them by their own tongues to condigne punishment for their own
sins.
Wise. There has been many such instances, but we will let that pass. I
was once in the presence of a Woman, a married woman, that lay sick of
the sickness whereof she died; and being smitten in her conscience for
the sin of Uncleanness, which she had often committed with other men,
[Picture: Take note symbol] I heard her (as she lay upon her Bed) cry
out thus: I am a Whore, and all my Children are Bastards: And I must go
to Hell for my sin; and look, there stands the Devil at my beds feet to
receive my Soul when I die.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account