An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

Hereupon we went to Prayer, and as I was kneeling down, dust was thrown upon me, but afterwards all was quiet, so long as we were […] Prayer. When we arose from Prayer, I applied my self to the reading of a portion of Scripture, which was Psal.91. The Man standing by me, and holding the Candle, but presently something did beat out the Light; whereupon the Man said, That some body else must hold it. Presently a Knife was thrown at me, which fell behind me; my Brother said, he saw it come. Then a chopping Knife was thrown (I think at the Man's Wife) whereupon the Man said, Things are thrown at others for my sake. At length he fell upon his knees, and confessed that he had been an Hypocrite, and a Pilfering Fellow, and that he ⟨p. 192⟩had robbed his Master, &c. and he wa• willing to separate the things which he had taken wrongfully from the rest, which he did accordingly; laying forth several things which he said, were none of his, naming the persons from whom he had taken them: And as a great Chest was carrying forth, Trenchers, Platters, and other things were thrown about in so dreadful a manner, that one not much noted for Religion, said, pray you let us go to Prayer; and indeed that was our only Refuge, so to go to God; and so we spent our time as well as we could, in Prayer, reading some portions of Scripture; and singing of Psalms: And though divers things were thrown, as a Dish several times, so that once I had a smart blow on the Cheek with a Dish, and the Man that lived in the House had his Boots thrown at him, and a chopping Knife twice; Crabs out of a Tub standing in the midst of the room, a fire Brand though without fire, and an hammer thrown twice, and a Bible. The Man's Wife who lived in the house, usually took up the things thus thrown; yet still in time of Prayer, all was quiet. In the morning after I had prayed (before which Prayer I was hit with a Dish) my Brother and I came away, and as we were coming ⟨p. 193⟩near home, we turned aside to speak with a Friend, but before we got home, we heard that the house was on fire: hereupon they sent for me again, and in the mean time, they carried out their Goods, pulled off the Thatch, and quenched the fire; yet (as I beard) it kindled again, and again, till all the Man's Goods were carried out: