Page:Wonderful progidies (sic) of judgment and mercy.pdf/24

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Dreadful Judgments upon Atheiſts,

done: and thereupon he and Arthington ran immediately into the ſtreets, and proclaimed their meſſage; and when by reaſon of the confluence o people they could go no further, they got up into two empty carts in Cheapſide, crying, Repent, repent, for Jeſus Chriſt is come to judge the world: And ſo pulling a paper out of their boſoms, they read out of it many things touching the calling and office of Hacket; as how he repreſented Chriſt, by taking part of his glorified body, &c. They likewiſe called themſelves the prophets, one of juſtice, and the other of mercy. The citizens being amazed at them, took Hacket and carried him before a juſtice of the peace, who, after examination, committed him to priſon; and at the ſeſſions, being found guilty of ſedition, and ſpeaking traiterous words againſt queen Elizabeth, he was condemned to die, and hanged on gibbet in Cheapſide, uttering horrible blaſphemy againſt the majeſty of God. Coppinger died the next day in Bridewell, and Arthington afterward made a public recantation. Thus the curſe of Hacket happened to him; for a viſible confuſion came upon him, according to his wiſh.—Beard's Theatre.


XXIX. In the city of Aſtorga, a mother in her rage curſed one of her own ſons with moſt deteſtable maledictions, wiſhing, The devils in hell to take him: and that they would fetch him out of her preſence, with many other horrible execrations; this was about ten o'clock at night, and very dark; the boy at laſt, for fear of her, went into a little court behind the houſe, from whence he was ſuddenly hoiſted up into the air, by men, in appearance, with grim countenance, of large ſtature, loathſome and horrible, and were indeed evil ſpirits of hell; who carried him away with ſuch ſwiftneſs (as he himſelf