Sermon at Execution of a Man Found Guilty of Murder, Title page 1 – To the reader 1
A SERMON Occaſioned by the EXECUTION of a man found Guilty of MURDER
Preached at Boſton in N. E. March 11th 1685 / 6
(Together with the Confeſſion, Laſt Expreſſions, & ſolemn Warning of that Murderer to all perſons; eſpecially to Young men, to beware of thoſe Sins which brought him to his miſerable End.)
By INCREASE MATHER, Teacher of Church of CHRIST.
The SECOND EDITION.
Deut. 19. 20. 21. And thoſe which remain ſhall hear and fear, and ſhall henceforth commit no more any ſuch Evil among you.
… 21. And thine eye ſhall not …ity, but Life ſhall go for Life, Eye for Eye, &c.
Prov. 28. 17. A man that doth violence to the blood of any perſon, ſhall flee to the pit, let no man ſtay him.
Boſton, Printed by R. P. Sold by J. Brunning Book-ſeller, at his Shop at the Corner of the Priſon-Lane next the Exchange. Anno 1687.
To the Reader▪
THe Sermons emitted herewith (both that of mine, and that alſo delivered by my Son) are publiſhed to gratify ſome, who have been perhaps too importunately deſirous to have it ſo. The Perſon that occaſioned the Preaching of them is now uncapable of receiving Benefit by them. Whether they were bleſſed for any ſaving Good to his Soul, the Lord knowes; and it become… us to leave Secret things with GOD. Late Repentance is ſeldom true▪ There are who think that many who periſhed in the Floud, were by means of that Judgment, brought to true Repentance▪ To this ſenſe ſome interpret that Scripure, 1. Pet. 4. 6. otherwiſe we read not of more than one man in all the Book of God, that was brought home to Chriſt but a few hours before his death. Nevertheleſs, the Lord knows how to make the woful death (as to his Body) of a great Sinner, to occaſion the Converſion and Salvation of many Souls.
If any be awakned by this ſad Example, to turn from thoſe ſins which proved the ruin of a miſerable man: and if theſe Sermons (ſuch as they are) may be a meanes to further the work of Repentance towards God, & Faith in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt▪ in any that ſhall read them; the Deſign of this Publication will be attained.
As for the Exhortation annexed to theſe Diſcourſes, it was delivered on the ſame day with that Sermon preached by my Son, (whom the Lord Jeſus hath fixed in the ſame Church to which I am related) but in the after part of the day. The Reverend and worthy Author has not had time to tranſcribe his whole Sermon, only that part of it which concerned the then Condemned Malefactor. Many have earneſtly deſired that it might in this way be made publick. And becauſe it is moſt ſuitable that the Beſt ſhould come laſt, it is in this Publication added to the other Sermons The Lord proſper his Truth, by whomſoever ſpoken or written for the Good of Souls.
Increaſe mather▪ March 26. 1686.