AN ACCOUNT Of A CHILD BORN At FURBICK in Darbyshire, The 19th. of January 1694. With a Top-knot and Roll On its HEAD, of several Colours. With a Seasonable Caution against PRIDE. Licenced Febr. the 28th. 1694. Isa. 13. 11. I will punish the World for their Evil, and the Wicked for their Iniquity; and I will cause the Arrogancy of the Proud t● cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the Terrible. GOD who worketh Signs and Wonders in Heaven, and in Earth, that humbled King Nebuchadnezar for his Pride; and made him confess to the greatness of his Power, and acknowledge that all the Inhabitants of the Earth are as nothing before him. Who doth according to his Will in the Army of Heaven and among the Inhabitants of the Earth; and none can stay his hand, or say to him, What dost thou? Whose Works are Truth, and his Ways Judgement▪ And those that walk in Pride he is able to Abase. This Almighty GOD, in this latter Age, hath showed his Signs in Heaven, and in Earth, and Signally manifested his sore Displeasure against the Crying and Reigning Sin of Pride, and the manifold Abominations of this Sinful Nation; a People Laden with Iniquity, the Pride of whose Countenances Testify against them and the Crown of Pride is on their Heads. They declare their Sin as Sodom (which was Pride, etc.) they hide it not, Woe unto their Soul: And unto the Haughty Daughters of England, who walk with stretched out Necks, wanton Eyes, and high Towering Dresses on their Heads, and Spots on their Faces, mincing as they go: The Lord can smite them with a Scab, the Crown of the Head of the proud Daughters of England, if they do not speedily Repent, and take away the Bravery of their high Dresses, their Chains, their Rings, their changeable Suits of Apparel, ●●eir Cornets and Commodes, etc. & instead of a sweet Smell, or costly perfume, cause a Stink; instead of their fine Stomachers, a girding with Sorrow or Sackcloth; and Burning instead of Beauty. And thy Men (as many already have) to fall by the Sword, and thy Mighty in the War. And thy Gates, oh London may yet more lament and mourn, as when they lay in Ashes; and thy fine and stately Houses become Dissolate, by the Earth's opening her Mouth, and swallowing up many of thine Inhabitants, and their sumptuous Habitations, as it hath in Country's remote, by dreadful Earthquakes, if thine and England's Inhabitants do not speedily Repent, and turn from the Evil of their ways, and forsake their abominable Pride and Ungodliness, the cause of God's Wrath, and their Misery; and while they have time seek after him, and to make their Peace with him whom they have so grievously offended, and so highly provoked: And by a lively, and steadfast Faith, lay hold of Christ his dear Son, that Died for our Sins, and Rose again for our Justification; and come to learn of him who was a lively Pattern, and Heavenly Ensample of Humility, being meek and lowly in Heart, and freely Invites all to come unto him, and to learn of him, that they may find rest and Peace unto their Souls; a Virtue greatly wanting among many of England's Inhabitants, this day, the Lord Incline their Hearts to seek after it. And now I shall give you a short Relation which I received, and doubt not the Truth of, Concerning a Child lately Born at Furbeck near Balber-hall in Darbyshire, on the 19th. of the last Month in this present year 1693/4 with a perfect Top-knot of great height, with Colours of Red and Black in it, and a Rowl behind its Head. And a Woman present taking it in her Arms beheld it, and said to some Women that beheld it also; go home and burn your Topknots, for said she, If I were a Queen I would burn mine. The Child's Fathers Name I forbear to mention, having not his consent. The Child lived but a Short time, and was buried on the 20th of the same Month. When it was Dead, the Top-knot fell upon its face, and it's reported it was longer than a Man's hand. And altho' I write thus cautiously, assure thyself Reader, this is no Fiction, nor Grubstreet Story, forged to get a Penny by, but published on this wise, in good will, that People may be warned against Pride, and running into such like foolish and Extravagant Dresses, and to fear God, and seriously consider his handiwork herein; and whether it doth not Evidently bespeak Gods great dislike of those abominable Dresses, and his high Displeasure against Pride, and such like Attire; and whether it doth not loudly call, and hath a speaking Voice in it to the Haughty Women of our Age, to leave off those Dresses to humble themselves, forsake their Pride, and amend their Doings, and Weep in secret Places for their Pride before the Lord; as his Prophet Jeremiah advises, Jer 13. 17. For God can take them away that Rejoice therein, bring Destruction upon them, cause them to fall, and to be taken in their Pride, therefore, let all consider, and Repent with all their Hearts, while they have time, (lest they come under that Woe, the Lord pronounced to the Crown of Pride, which he hath determined shall be trodden under foo●, see Isa. 28.) for their days here are at most short, their Moment's uncertain, their Breath in the Lord's hand, that can withdraw it in the twinkling of an Eye; & if in a dying hour they should be sensible of the want of Peace with him, and a certain Assurance of Eternal bliss, what will their Riches, costly Array, and fine Dresses do them good, O then the time they have misspent in Attiring their Heads and Houses of Clay: And in Pride, Excess, and Superfluity will be an aggravation of their Grief, and an increase of their Sorrow, in such a Season. Therefore Repent Repent, and amend your doings, ye haughty ones, and no longer continue in your Pride and Wickedness; for the Devil is King over all Children of Pride, see Job 41. 34. And the Wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the Nations of them that forget God, see Psal. 9 17. And know that God that suffered this Top-knot and Roll to be on this Child's Head, can cause the like on your Children. And consider also you that spot your faces, with Patches, that he can also cause your Children to be born with such Spots, that you would as gladly cover, as you put them on. And therefore, you that have Children born in their perfect Shapes, and right Features, praise the Lord, and prise his Mercy, for it, and apply your hearts to his Grace, and learn of it, that you may be taught to live worthy of that, and all his Mercy, and to deny all ungodliness, and unrighteousness, which is the cause of God's Wrath, and your Misery, whilst you continue therein, therefore come to Christ to take away the Cause, and the Effect will cease; and you through Faith and Obedience to him, may know Salvation from Sin to your Immortal Souls: So wisheth and Prayeth your Friend, G. V. London Febr. 28th. 1693/4 LONDON, Printed by T. Sowle, at the Crooked Billet in Holywell-Lane, Shoreditch 1694.