Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/87

 their Jeering and Mocking, at an honeſt Gentleman, and a Neighbour, for ſome of them knew him, who they ſaw was overwhelm'd with Sorrow, for the Breaches which it had pleas'd God to make upon his Family.

I cannot call exactly to Mind the hellith abominable Rallery, which was the Return they made to that Talk of mine, being provoked, it ſeems, that I was not at all afraid to be free with them; nor if I could remember, would I fill my Account with any of the Words, the horrid Oaths, Curſes, and vile Expreſſions, ſuch, as at that time of the Day; even the worſt and ordinarieſt People in the Street would not uſe; (for except ſuch hardened Creatures as theſe, the moſt wicked wretches that could be found, had at that Time ſome Terror upon their Minds of the Hand of that Power which could thus, in a Moment deſtroy them.)

But that which was the worſt in all their devilliſh Language was, that they were not afraid to blaſpheme God, and talk Atheiſtically; making a Jeſt at my calling the Plague the Hand of God, mocking, and even laughing at the Word Judgment, as if the Providence of God had no Concern in the inflicting ſuch a deſolating Stroke; and that the People calling upon God, as they ſaw the Carts carrying away the dead Bodies was all enthuſiaſtick, abſurd, and impertinent.

I made them ſome Reply, ſuch as I thought proper, but which I found was ſo far from putting a Checque to their horrid Way of ſpeaking, that it made them rail the more, ſo that I confeſs it fill'd me with Horror, and a kind of Rage, and I came away, as I told them, left the Hand of that Judgment which had viſited the whole City ſhould glorify his Vengeance upon them, and all that were near them.