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person to two of them。
They immediately fell upon me with ill language and oaths； asked
me what I did out of my grave at such a time when so many honester
men were carried into the churchyard； and why I was not at home
saying my prayers against the dead…cart came for me； and the like。
I was indeed astonished at the impudence of the men； though not at
all discomposed at their treatment of me。 However； I kept my temper。
I told them that though I defied them or any man in the world to tax
me with any dishonesty； yet I acknowledged that in this terrible
judgement of God many better than I were swept away and carried to
their grave。 But to answer their question directly； the case was； that I
was mercifully preserved by that great God whose name they had
blasphemed and taken in vain by cursing and swearing in a dreadful
manner； and that I believed I was preserved in particular； among other
ends of His goodness； that I might reprove them for their audacious
boldness in behaving in such a manner and in such an awful time as
this was； especially for their jeering and mocking at an honest
gentleman and a neighbour （for some of them knew him）； who； they
saw； was overwhelmed with sorrow for the breaches which it had
pleased God to make upon his family。
I cannot call exactly to mind the hellish； abominable raillery 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 devilish language was； that
they were not afraid to blaspheme God and talk atheistically； making
a jest of my calling the plague the hand of God； mocking； and even
laughing； at the word judgement； 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 enthusiastic； absurd； and impertinent。
I made them some reply； such as I thought proper； but which I found
was so far from putting a check to their horrid way of speaking that it
made them rail the more； so that I confess it filled me with horror and
a kind of rage； and I came away； as I told them； lest the hand of that
judgement which had visited the whole city should glorify His
vengeance upon them； and all that were near them。
They received all reproof with the utmost contempt； and made the
greatest mockery that was possible for them to do at me； giving me all
the opprobrious； insolent scoffs that they could think of for preaching
to them； as they called it； which indeed grieved me； rather than angered me；
and I went away； blessing God； however； in my mind that I had not spared them；
though they had insulted me so much。
They continued this wretched course three or four days after this；
continually mocking and jeering at all that showed themselves
religious or serious； or that were any way touched with the sense of
the terrible judgement of God upon us； and I was informed they
flouted in the same manner at the good people who； notwithstanding
the contagion； met at the church； fasted； and prayed to God to remove
His hand from them。
I say； they continued this dreadful course three or four days … I think
it was no more … when one of them； particularly he who asked the
poor gentleman what he did out of his grave； was struck from Heaven
with the plague； and died in a most deplorable manner； and； in a
word； they were every one of them carried into the great pit which I
have mentioned above； before it was quite filled up； which was not
above a fortnight or thereabout。
These men were guilty of many extravagances； such as one would
think human nature should have trembled at the thoughts of at such a
time of general terror as was then upon us； and particularly scoffing
and mocking at everything which they happened to see that was
religious among the people； especially at their thronging zealously to
the place of public worship to implore mercy from Heaven in such a
time of distress； and this tavern where they held their dub being
within view of the church…door； they had the more particular occasion
for their atheistical profane mirth。
But this began to abate a little with them before the accident which I
have related happened； for the infection increased so violently at this
part of the town now； that people began to be afraid to come to the
church； at least such numbers did not resort thither as was usual。
Many of the clergymen likewise were dead； and others gone into the
country； for it really required a steady courage and a strong faith for a
man not only to venture being in town at such a time as this； but
likewise to venture to come to church and perform the office of a
minister to a congregation； of whom he had reason to believe many of
them were actually infected with the plague； and to do this every day；
or twice a day； as in some places was done。
It is true the people showed an extraordinary zeal in these religious
exercises； and as the church…doors were always open； people would go
in single at all times； whether the minister was officiating or no； and
locking themselves into separate pews； would be praying to God with
great fervency and devotion。
Others assembled at meeting…houses； every one as their different
opinions in such things guided； but all were promiscuously the subject
of these men's drollery； especially at the beginning of the visitation。
It seems they had been checked for their open insulting religion in
this manner by several good people of every persuasion； and that； and
the violent raging of the infection； I suppose； was the occasion that
they had abated much of their rudeness for some time before； and
were only roused by the spirit of ribaldry and atheism at the clamour
which was made when the gentleman was first brought in there； and
perhaps were agitated by the same devil； when I took upon me to
reprove them； though I did it at first with all the calmness； temper；
and good manners that I could； which for a while they insulted me the
more for thinking it had been in fear of their resentment； though
afterwards they found the contrary。
I went home； indeed； grieved and afflicted in my mind at the
abominable wickedness of those men； not doubting； however； that
they would be made dreadful examples of God's justice； for I looked
upon this dismal time to be a particular season of Divine vengeance；
and that God would on this occasion single out the proper objects of
His displeasure in a