Christian ethics -- Fiction; Christian fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction
Atten. Pray, therefore, if you please, tell me what it is, as to this,
that you know; and then, perhaps, I may also say something to you of
the same.
Wise. [Picture: Take note symbol] In {86} our Town there was one
W. S. a man of a very wicked life; and he, when there seemed to be
countenance given to it, would needs turn Informer. Well, so he did,
and was as diligent in his business as most of them could be; he would
watch a nights, climb Trees, and range the Woods a days, if possible,
to find out the Meeters, for then they were forced to meet in the
Fields: yea, he would curse them bitterly, and swear most fearfully
what he would do to them when he found them. Well, after he had gone on
like a Bedlam in his course a while, and had done some mischiefs to the
people, he was stricken by the hand of God, and that in this manner.
1. Although he had his tongue naturally at will, now he was taken with
a faultering in his speech, and could not for weeks together speak
otherwise, than just like a man that was drunk.
2. Then he was taken with a drauling, or slabbering at his mouth, which
slabber sometimes would hang at his mouth well nigh half way down to
the ground.
3. Then he had such a weakness in the back sinews of his Neck, that oft
times he could not look up before him, unless he clapped his hand hard
upon his forehead, and held up his head that way, by strength of hand.
4. After this his speech went quite away, and he could speak no more
than a Swine or a Bear. Therefore, like one of them, he would gruntle
and make an ugly noyse, according as he was offended, or pleased, or
would have any thing done, &c.
In this posture he continued for the space of half a year, or
thereabouts, all the while otherwise well, and could go about his
business, save once that he had a fall from the Bell as it hangs in
our Steeple, which ’twas a wonder it did not kill him: But after that
he also walked about, till God had made him a sufficient spectacle of
his Judgment for his sin, and then on a sudden he was stricken and dyed
miserably: and so there was an end of him and his doings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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