Page:Swearer's prayer, or, His oath explained.pdf/3

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In November, 1786, a person much given to swearing, being disappointed by one of his companions not returning to the public-house as soon as he expected, swore he would never drink with him again, and that if he did, it should be his last. Accordingly, that day was his last.—God took him at his word, and thus called him into eternity.

In November, 1787, one Wrs, a smith, spending the evening at a public-house, in Leather-lane, quarrelled with one of his companions, and while swearing one of the most horrid oaths, God struck him instantaneously dead, with an oath on his lips, upon the bench where he was sitting. The Jury who sat upon the body, after hearing all the circumstances of the case, brought in their verdict that Wrs struck dead as a judgment from God.—This narration was given by the foreman of the jury.

Another remarkable judgment overtook a person living in Brewer-street, Soho, who, cursing and swearing in a most dreadful manner, was struck speechless, and died the same afternoon. Will's Register.

T. G. who lived in the parish of Sedgley, near Wolverhampton, having lost a considerable sum at cock-fighting, to which practice he was notoriously addicted, swore in a most horrid manner, that he would never fight another cock, frequently calling upon God to damn his soul to all eternity if he did; and, with dreadful imprecations, wishing the Devil might fetch him, if ever he made another bet;

His resolution, thus impiously formed, was for a while observed, but about two years afterwards, Satan, whose willing servant he continued to be, inspired him with a violent desire to attend a cocking at Wolverhampton, and he complied with the temptation. He there stood up, and cried, "I hold four to three on such a cock." "Four what?" said one of his companions in iniquity. "Four