VVHen GOD vouchsafes to speak in Miracles of Mer­cy to the Sons of Men, 'tis certainly their Duty to an­swer in Loud Eccho's of Praise and Thanksgiving. Thus it has in all Ages been the Practice of the Ser­vants of the Lord, to Re­gister and Proclaim the Signal Actions of Provi­dence, happening in their Day, both for the Confirmation of their own faith, and Engaging Posterity to trust in that God that has done such mighty things for their Predecessors, next to those Sacred Authors of the Soul, Scripture Promises, there is [Page 4]nothing a Christian relyes on more, then the sweet Ex­periences of Gods gracious dealings with him or others in his Condition, in times by past. Wherefore having been in part an Eye-witness of this Signal mercy, which I am going to relate, I could not but think it my duty to make the same publick; and hope though it come a­broad in the Garb of a Pamphlet, the Truth of the Nar­rative, and nature of the thing, may render it worthy the notice of sober Men, and rescue it from that contempt justly due to those many stragling Sheets, wherewith our Streets are daily pesterd; Seldom fraight with better La­ding than Stories, either Fictitious or useless.

It cannot but be known to all, (by sad experience I fear too many of the poorer sort) that most kinds of Provision have of late been dear, and particularly Bread (Justly reputed the Staffe of Life) VVheat having last Spring and Summer, been sold in several parts of England, for 10. or 11. Shillings the Bushell: In which Scarcity, though London and the places adjacent, were plentifully supplyed with Corn from beyond the Seas: Some hun­dred thousand Quarters of French Wheat, being brought in, yet remoter parts of the Nation suffered very considera­bly, but more especially the West; partly by reason of the thin Harvest there the other Year, and partly too from the wretched Covetousness of some Farmers, who kept up their Corn on purpose to make a Dearth, and would not bring it to Market till they had got it to an excessive Rate; It being Sold last VVinter at several places in Summerset-shire, at Twelve Shillings a Bushel: A price which thousands of poor People were not able to raise; and therefore many that had great Charger of Children, and little Employment, were forced to make Bread of Pease, and Tares, &c. and exposed to much want and Hardship.

When Corn grow thus dear in the Markets; An ho­nest Godly Farmer, living at a small Village called Wel­ling, Scituate within three or four Miles from the City of Wells in Summerset-shire, (whose Name I am Oblieged to Conceal, having no leave from himself to publish it) taking into consideration the Deplorable Condition of many poor Families round about, thus in Necessity and almost ready to perish; resolved to afford them not only his pitty (that Common but useless Salve of Misery) but also to Contribute what he could effectually to their Relief: And to that purpose having a considerable Stock of Wheat by him, he freely Sold it to all such as he knew to be poor People, after the Rate of Six Shil­lings a Bushell, although it were generally Sold by all others in the Markets thereabouts, at Ten or Eleven Shillings at least. And thus he continued Selling most part of the last Winter, Spring, and Summer; as long as he had any Wheat left that he could spare from his own necessary use. And by this Christian Compassionate deal­ing, tis verily beleived he was under God, a means to preserve above a hundred Families.

This good SAMARITAN, though he had a com­petent Estate to live contented, and comfortably with, Yet he was no great Rich Man; which occasioned seve­ral of his Neighbours to look upon themselves far beyond him in point of Estate, to envy and deride him, as Act­ing very foolishly in not making the most of his own (as they vainly called it; forgetting that whatsoever we enjoy, is but lent us by the Lord, who expects it to be improved to his Service, and the Good of our fellow-Creatures) one of these Churlish Nabals (as tis said) one day telling him, that if he parted with his Corn so sillily, he would shortly come to want bread himself. To all which this Good-man meekly answered: That he thought it his duty to relieve People in distress to his Ability, that he rec­koned he might afford it at the rate he sold it for, and ve­rily [Page 6]believed, he should be never the poorer for not ex­acting these unreasonable Prises which others took, for that, God was able to make it up to him some other way, and that he should cast himself wholly on his good Providence, &c.

And now, Christian Reader, prepare thy Attention, to observe Gods wonderfully making good that promise in his Holy Word, that he will never deceive them that trust in him, since by so strange a means, he hath been plea­sed to return this Charitable person Ten fold, in a mar­vellous Crop of Wheat; such as 'tis thought no Age could ever parallel.

For having sown a piece of Ground with Wheat, con­taining somewhat above Ten Acres, though the Soil were but mean, and not any way considerably prepared by a­mendment, yet the Blades come up very thick and pro­mising; but what was infinitely more strange, when it came to Ear, there came forth many several, and distinct Ears upon one Stalk: Some having 7, some 8, some 9, and so to 13, upon some; so that throughout all that Ten Acres of Corn, every Stalk one with another, may be justly reckoned to produce Ten Ears apiece.

The Wheat is of that kind which they call Bearded, and has many Brisles growing up with the Ears, the Stalks are somewhat bigger then ordidary, yet not much, and 'tis very wonderful to think how they should be able to support such a weight, for the Ears are generally large, and full of excellent Wheat; so that it is reasonably computed by the modest Guessors that there is as much Wheat produced upon this Ten Acres, as ever was before upon ten times the same quantity of Ground; or that, as I am credibly in­formed, it yeilds as in the Thrashing, answerably to the Bulk and and Growth of it.

The matter is a truth, known and admired throughout most of the West of England, and to several Persons in this City of London, divers Ears being brought up by some persons lately in those parts; whereof my self have seen some at the Coffee-house in Bedlam; and others are to be seen at the Royal Exchange, by any persons whose curiosity shall desire the same. Some Scoffing Atheist may perhaps endeavour to render it improbable or disbeliev'd, but we hope the more sober and judicious, finding it an undoubted Reality, of which they cannot but be satisfied upon a small enquiry, will regard it with more consideration, and give Glory to God; who by so remarkable an Instance, hath been pleased to declare his Providence, and make known not only that he is, as to his existence, but that he is a Rewarder (sometimes even in this life) of all those that trust in him, and obey his Commandments. And may this president awaken all, to abandon their Cruelty, and Uncharitableness, and to learn to do good and commu­nicate; for with such things the most High is well pleased, and will recompence the same, according to his promise, pronounced by the wisest of Kings, Prov. 11.25. The liberal Person shall have plenty, and he that watereth, shall be watered himself.