IV. About two Years ago a Publican and a Cooper entered on a Swearing-Match at Clewer, a Village about a Mile from Windfor: Arbiters were chofen, when the Publican, in the Midft of his profane and uncommon Oaths, was ftruck by divine Vengeance, his Jaws were diftorted, he was taken Speechlefs, and died the third Day.

V. At Alderbury in Oxfordshire, a Woman that kept a Public Houfe much addicted herself to Oaths and Curfes; who quarrelling one Morning with a Neighbour, ufed feveral profane and abominable Wishes and Imprecations, as "GOD damn me!" and "The Devil burn me!". which last Words fhe often repeated, thrufting the Perfon out of Door, and fhutting it. Her Husband coming home foon after wondered to find the Door fhut, and with one or two of his Neighbours forced it open; when, to his great furprize, he finds, in the Midft of the Floor the Relicks of his Wife: one Side of her Body, from Head to Foot, burnt to Afbes, and the other fide remained whole, and the Cloaths not fo much as touched or finged; though it was observed that the Flesh and Skin were both black.

VI. One JAMES WILSON, a Labourer, a known and common Swearer, and Blafphemer of God's holy Name; upon a flight Occafion moved to Difpleafure against his Wife, and not daring to do Violence to her, turned his Rage against himfelf; and with his Knife ftabbed himself, and fo died; many of his Friends and Neighbours being prefent.

IS DIVEs dead? a great and noted Name;

For fine Apparel of immortal Fame:

For fumptuous Tables with rich Dainties spread,
Wherewith his Guests voluptuously were fed.
No Table for the Indigent, and Poor,

And Crumbs deny'd the Beggar at his Door.
Conforts of Mufic, playing in the Hall,
Ending the Ev'ning, with a fplendid Ball:
In fuch Delights proud DIVES spent his Days,
And never thought of Heav'n in all his Ways.
DIVES, DIVES the living GOD forsook,

And in uncertain Wealth his Pleasure took.

Had DIVES help'd what Objects he thought beft,
Out of his great Abundance he poffeft;

Whether, the mournful Widow he reliev'd,
Or Children, without Fathers, he perceiv'd
Wandring about, no Habitation left;

Of Fathers, Friends, and of their all bereft ;
Had he his Mercy, and Compaffion shown

To thefe, or Objects like to these well known;
The Sick, the Naked, feeble aged Man;

And confin'd Pris'ners, looking pale and wan;

O then, what Treasures DIVES would have found
In Heav'n, whofe Happiness would know no Bound.
DIVES is dead, the Fun'ral Rites enfue;

DIVES hath paid to Nature his last due.

Now level with the Beggar, he difdain'd,

In Hell tormented, and in Darkness chain'd,
For ever loft! for ever in Defpair!

With other Sinners, who like Sorrows fhare.
Tremble, ye Rich! This Truth to you is told,
Who, before God, prefer your idol Gold.
Do Good at all Times, and in ev'ry Place,
That Flames infernal flash not. in your Face.

All your good Deeds are minuted above,

All Objects of your Charity, and Love :

With willing Hearts, and Hands, your Gifts bestow, That the poor Wretch, may this Life's Comforts know. Those wealthy Men are in a woful Plight,

Whom Love for GoD can't draw, nor Hell affright.

What Cares, and Fears, difturb the Rich Men's

Breaft?

He, in one Day, of all is difpoffest.

Perhaps, fome Enemy invades his Land,

Or his fine Houses, which fo fpacious ftand;

A fudden Fire confumes them to the Ground,

And Plagues from Heav'n his guilty Soul furround.
How difcontented was the wealthy Youth,
How forrowful, when JESUS told the Truth!

That all his vaft Poffeffions must be fold,

And to the Poor be giv'n his Stores of Gold,

If he eternal Happiness would gain;

And without thefe his other Virtues vain.

Salvation on fuch Terms too dear, he thought,

Perhaps, from others, Terms more easy fought.
If God commands, let us give him our all,
And che arfully obey his heav'nly Call.

THE

PARABLE

O F

DIVES and LAZARUS,

In PROS E.

LUKE XVI. 19, 20, 21.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple, and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of fores, and defiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table : moreover, the dogs came and licked his fores.

RICHES,

ICHES, whether hereditary to their Owners, or acquired by Industry and Succefs, are the Gifts of GOD. By the long Poffeffion of them, many have forgot the original Giver, and brought down the Dif pleasure of Heaven, by a wrong Application of these Talents. No Pretences can be found fufficient to difcharge them from the Duties of Love and Charity. Without these they cannot be Chriftians. they have is God's, and they have nothing that they

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