Sermon at Execution of a Man Found Guilty of Murder, Sermon 1 – To the reader 2

Sermon at Execution of a Man Found Guilty of Murder · Sermon 1 – To the reader 2

p. 1NUMB. XXXV. 16. And if he ſmite him with an Inſtrument of Iron (ſo that he die) he is a Murderer, the Murderer ſhall ſurely be put to DEATH.

A Great part of this Chapter is taken up in declaring who ſhould have benefit by the City of Refuge; and who might not expect advantage thereby. There are Two ſorts of Man-ſlayers, (1) One may kill his Neighbour Accidentally, tho he had no deſign of Hurt to him, nor any Diſpleaſure againſt him. The City of Refuge was for ſuch. (2.) A Man may in Hatred or in Paſſion kill another, and then then the City of Refuge could not ſecure or ſave him from the hand of Juſtice; To intimate which is the Scope of the Words which have been now read wherein we have two things, 1. A Criminal 2. The Puniſhment to be inflicted on ſuch a Criminal.

1. A Criminal, He is a Murderer: There are three Particulars mention'd, which if they concur the Perſon is guilty of Murder: 1. If he ſmites another man, h. e. if he does ſo, not accidentally but deſignedly. 2. If the Inſtrument which he ſmites him with be of Iron, that makes the Murder to be the more evident. In the Verſes following it is added, That if he ſmite him mortally p. 2with a Stone or with Wood, he ſhall be accounted a Murderer. The Jewiſh Writers tell us, (a)(a)v. Grotium & Ainſworth in loc.That if a man were ſlain, there was diligent enquiry made concerning the Inſtrument, whereby he was killed: If it was with a Stone or with Wood, they examin'd whether the ſtone or wood were of that Bigneſs as that the dead man might probably receive his Deaths Wound thereby: But (they ſay) If it were with an Inſtrument of Iron, no enquiry was made as to the greatneſs of it, becauſe the leaſt nail of Iron might eaſily kill. And it is to be preſumed, that a man will not ſtrike another with an Inſtrument of Iron, except Blood and Murder be in his Heart. 3. If the Wound prove mortal, then the Striker is guilty of Murder. Tho a man ſhould ſmite another, and that with an Inſtrument of Iron, if Death does not follow, he is not guilty of that high degree of Murder which the Text ſpeakes of; but if he ſmite his Neighbour ſo that he dye, then he is a Murderer.

2▪ Here is the Puniſhment to be inflicted on ſuch a Criminal. The Murderer ſhall ſurely be put to death. Only Gods Order was to be obſerved; he was to be put to death in a Judiciary way. Amongſt the Jews, the Avenger of blood was to be the Executioner; as the 19th ver. in this chapter ſhews, where it is ſaid, that the Avenger of blood himſelf ſhall ſlay the Murderer. The Hebrew word for the Avenger pf bloud is GOEL, which p. 3is ſometimes tranſlated a Redeemer: The word properly ſignifyes one that is near a kin. The next Kinſman had right to Redeem, he alſo was to be the Avenger of blood: Only before Execution could be done the Magiſtrate was to paſs a Judgment. The Man-ſlayer was ſent from the City of Refuge whither he fled, unto the place where the Fact was done, there to have his Tryal. If the Magiſtrates of that Place found him not guilty, he was returned to the City of Refuge, there to be in ſafety till the death of the High Prieſt, and then to be ſet at Liberty: But if he was found Guilty of Murder, he was to be put to death publickly by the hand of Juſtice.

The DOCTRINE then before us, as ſuited to the preſent Occaſion is,

That Murder is a Sin ſo great & heinous, as that whoever ſhall be found Guilty of it, muſt be put to death by the hand of publick Juſtice.

The Explication and Confirmation of this Doctrin may be ſet before us in 3 Propoſitions.

Prop. 1. Murder, is when a man does voluntarily & unjuſtly take away the Life of another perſon.

So that there are 3 Things implied in Murder▪

1. The Object ſlain muſt be one of Man-kind. To take away the Life of another Creature is not Murder. The Sixth Commandment ſaith, Ye ſhall not kill. The Hebrew words are, LOT…RTZACH, i. e. Thou ſhalt not Murder. It was a …ain Opinion of the Manachees, whom Auſtin p. 4That the Life of no Creature might be taken away becauſe the Commandment of God ſaith, Thou ſhalt not kill. God has given expreſs leave to all the Sons of Noah, i. e., to Mankind, that they ſhould take away the Lives of other creatures as they ſhould ſee cauſe; only Man being a more Divine Creature, his Life is to be Sacred: it may not be medled with, except in caſes where the Great & Soveraign God, who has an abſolute power of Life and Death, hath appointed.

2. Capital Murder is wilful. There is a difference between Murder and caſual Homicide, or accidental Manſlaughter. If a man ſhoots an Arrow, or throws a ſtone, or the like, not thinking that any one will be hurt thereby; in caſe it ſhould happen to kill a man, it is not Murder. If he did it ignorantly, unawares, and no way ſought the harm of the ſlain man, he is not to be puniſhed as a Murderer. This we ſee in the Context, ver. 15. to 26. The City of Refuge was for ſuch an one; Deut. 19. 4. 5. And this is the caſe of the ſlayer which ſhall flee thither, that he may live: whoſoever killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time paſt; as when a man goes into the Wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a ſtroke with the Ax, to cut down the tree, and the head ſlippeth from the helve, & lights upon his neighbour that he die, he ſhall flee unto one of thoſe cities and live. Not but that a man may p. 5be guilty of Murdering his Neighbour, tho he did not intend to kill him; namely, If he did ſmite him in Anger, or intend to harm him, as the expreſſion is in the 23. ver. of this Chapter. And it is here expreſly declared, not only that he who ſhall lye in wait, or watch for an opportunity to deſtroy his Neighbour, or that did formerly hate him ſhall be judged a Murderer, but if he ſmite him in emnity that he dy, v. 21. i. e. in an hoſtile way: tho he had no quarrel with him before, if he fall out with him, and in his paſſion ſmite him a mortal Blow, he hath murdered his Neighbour, and is guilty of death. This is preſumptous Murder, the heart was in it, nor can it be ſaid to be done ignorantly. There is another clear Scripture which proves, that if perſons fall out, and in the ſtrife one ſhall ſtrike the other a deadly blow, life ſhall go for life. Ex. 21. 14, 21, 22

But then 3dly. In Murder, the Life of a man is taken away unjuſtly. In ſome caſes it is lawful to take away the Life of another. Yea, Matters may be ſo circumſtanced, as it would be a great ſin not to do it. There are Three caſes wherein the Life of a man may be taken away, and yet no Sin, no Murder committed.

1. In caſe of a Juſt War. There is a great difference between blood ſhed in war, and in a time of Peace. Joab was guilty of Murder, becauſe he ſhed the blood of War in peace. 1. King 2. 5▪ had he killed Abner & Amaſa in the war-time, before p. 6David had made peace with him, he had not bin guilty of Murder; but becauſe he ſhed blood after a peace was concluded, he was a Murderer. Somtimes in War, they that take away lives, do an acceptable ſervice to God. Abigal told David, that God would certainly bleſs, him becauſe he fought the Battles of the Lord. 1. Sam. 25. 28. And we know that Abraham was bleſſed, after he returned from the Slaughter of the Kings with whom he had a juſt war. Heb. 7. 2. In theſe caſes, the not ſhedding of blood may poſſibly expoſe to a Curſe. Jer. 48. 10 Curſed be he that does the work of the Lord deceitfully, and curſed be he that keeps back his ſword from blood.

2. They that are in Civil Authority, may and ought to take away the Lives of men, that ſhall commit Crimes, by the Law of God worthy of Death. The Apoſtle therefore ſaith concerning the Magiſtrate, He is the miniſter of God to thee for good, but if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he …eareth not the ſword in vain; for he is the miniſter of God; a Revenger to execute wrath upon him that does Evil. Rom. 13 4. Private Reveng is evil, but publick Revenge on thoſe that violate the Laws of God, is good. The Magiſtrate is God's Vice-gerent. As none can give life but God; ſo none may take it away, but God, or ſuch as He has appointed. It is their work to ſee that the Lives of men be taken from them, when God has ſaid, that they ſhall ſurely be put to death. Hence p. 7David ſpeaks, as in Pſal. 101. 8. I will early deſtroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all the wicked Doers from the City of the Lord. God had put the Sword into his hand for that end, that ſo he might clear the Land of Malefactors, who were worthy of Death, and he was reſolved to ſee Juſtice done. But private Perſons are not to arrogate to themſelves that which is the Magiſtrate's proper work. Men muſt have lawful Authority for what they do; elſe in taing away Life, they become guilty of Murder. Suppoſe a perſon to have committed never ſuch Capital Crimes, if a private perſon, or one that has no Legal Authority ſhall take away his Life, he is guilty of Murder. Except

3. In caſe of a man's own juſt Defence. So a private perſon may take away the life of another▪ The light of Nature teaches men Self-Preſervation. If a Murderer aſſault him, he may kill rather than be killed. We cannot ſay that Abner was guilty of Murder when he ſlew Aſahal in his own defence. (b)(b)Alſted, Theol. Caſ. Cap. 15. p. 350.If a man be, coutrary to Juſtice, invaded or ſet upon by another in an hoſtile manner, and there he no other way for him to preſerve his own life, but by killing the Aſſailant; the Law of Nature, and of all Nations acquit him from the guilt of Murder. But he that has ſhed blood cauſleſs, or that has avenged himſelf, is a Murderer. 1. Sam. 25. 31.

p. 8Propoſ. 2. Murder is an exceeding great Sin. It's an expreſſion in the Scriptures, he is as if he ſlew a man, Iſa. 66. 3. Implying that to ſlay a man is a thing moſt horrid & hateful: it is indeed the greateſt Sin againſt the 2nd Table of the Moral Law, and is therefore ſet in the firſt place, amongſt negative Precepts therein. God forbids the greateſt ſin in the firſt place. It is a Crying Sin: The Lord ſaid to Cain. The voice of thy brothers blood cryeth to me from the ground, Gen. 4. 10. In the Original, the word is in the Plural Number, the voice of thy brothers bloods. Every drop of Abel's blood, had as it were a voice, a tongue in it, crying for vengeance againſt his brother that had murdered him. But that This is a grievous ſin is manifeſt: 1. In that it is a moſt unnatural thing. Creatures of the ſame kind are not wont to deſtroy one another. Naturaliſts obſerve concerning Wolves, that though they be cruel creatures, they will never kill one another: therefore if Men do ſo they are worſe than Wolves & Tygers: ſo that Murder is an unnatural and a monſtrous Wickedneſs. 2. The Vengeance which is wont to follow this Sin, proves that it is an horrid and hainous Transgreſſion. There is a peculiar Vengeance that does purſue this ſin at the heels of it. The Gentiles had the motion of this fix'd in their minde: hence thoſe Barbarians could ſay, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom tho' he eſcaped the ſeas, yet Vengeance p. 9ſuffereth not to live, Act. 21. 4. ‖‖Ethnici Dicen tanquam deam & filiam Jovis colebant in Plut. l. de ſer a vindict. Dice daemon dicitur▪The Heathen eſteemed [dike] (the word there uſed for Vengeance) as a Deity that would not ſuffer great Sinners, and in ſpecial Murderers to go unpuniſhed. Temporal Vengeance purſueth this Sin. Hence they that have been guilty of it, ſeldom live long in quiet. Bloody and deceitful men ſhall not live out half their days. Pſal. 55. 23. Either they are cut off by the Sword of Civil Juſtice, or if their Murders happen to be undiſcovered, a ſecret Curſe of God follows them: Often times they are themſelvs Murdered, as both Divine and humane Records do abundantly declare. Nay, tho men ſhould truly repent of this ſin, and are then thro' the Merit of Chriſt ſaved from everlaſting Puniſhment, yet not from Temporal Judgment. I cannot tell whether ever any man that was found guilty of this ſin, did eſcape Temporal Judgment at laſt. When David had cauſed Ʋriah to be Murdered, he did repent of it moſt deeply and unfeignedly, yet God puniſhed him ſeverely as to outward Judgments; he ſaw but few comfortable dayes after that, the Sword never departed from his houſe. I have read of a man that fought a Duel, and murdered his Adverſary, who afterwards was very penitent, and for ſeveral years an eminent inſtance of exemplary piety; but at laſt he was p. 10ſmitten by the immediate hand of God, ſo as that Blood guſhed out of all the paſſages of his Body, and he dyed ſuddenly. The Relator notes upon it, that tho' God forgave him as to eternal, yet not as to temporal Vengeance. But eſpecially Spiritnal Vengeance follows this Sin: The Murderers Soul is filled with helliſh horrour of heart; ſo that he is as it were Damned above ground, and in hell whilſt he is yet alive. The avenger of blood purſues his ſoul. Murderers have confeſſed, that as ſoon as ever they had commited the bloody fact, they felt the flames of Hell fire in their conſciences: and this we ſee in Cain: therefore after he had murdered his Brother, he cried and roared out, that his ſin was greater than could be forgiven, his puniſhment greater than could be endured. And ſome think that the mark which the Lord ſet upon Cain, was a gaſtly guilty Countenance, that he had Hell & Horror in his countenance, as well as in his Conſcience. And without Repentance, everlaſting vengeance will follow that Sin. Its ſaid, No murderer has eternal life. 1. Joh. 3. 15. that is, without true Repentance. And if he has not eternal life, then I am ſure he has eternal death and Damnation. If the Murderer were only to have the life of his body taken from him, tho' in a painful, ſhameful & accurſed way, that were a light matter; but there is an eternal Curſe, a weight of everlaſting vengeance, heavier than Mountains p. 11of Lead, that ſhall preſs his Soul to death, world without end. Murder then is a fearful ſin.

Propoſ. 3. The Murderer is to be put to death by the hand of Publick Juſtice. And this confirms the former Propoſitions concerning the greatneſs of this Sin. Men may not pardon or remit the Puniſhment of that Sin. Among the Jews there was no City of Refuge for a wicked or wilful man-ſlayer; and it is ſaid in the 31 verſe of this Chapter, You ſhall take no ſatisfaction for the life of a Murderer which is guilty of death, but he ſhall ſurely be put to death. This ſin ſhall not be ſatisfyed for, with any other puniſhment, but the death of the Murderer. There are ſome Crimes, that other puniſhment leſs than Death may be accepted of, as a Compenſation for the wrong done; either by ſome Mulct or Fine in their Eſtates, or ſome other Coporal Puniſhment leſs than death: but in caſe of Murder, no Fine or Impriſonment, or Baniſhment, or corporal puniſhment leſs than death can be accepted; You ſhall take no ſatisfaction for the life of a murderer. And indeed Equity requires this; by the law of Retaliation, it is meet that men ſhould be done unto, as they have done to others; and that as limb ſhould go for limb, ſo Life for Life. But beſides that, there are two Reaſons mentioned in the Scripture, why the Murderer muſt be put to Death.

Reaſ. 1. That ſo the Land where the murder is p. 12committed, may be purged from the guilt of Blood. For Murder is ſuch a ſin as does pollute the very Land where it is done; not only the perſon that has ſhed blood is polluted thereby, but the whole Land lies under Pollution until ſuch time as Juſtice is done upon the Murderer. Thus in the 33. v. of this Chapter, this is given as the Reaſon why no Satisfaction might be taken for the life of a Murderer; ſo ſhall ye not pollute the land wherein you are; for blood it defileth the land, and the land cannot be cleanſed of the blood that is ſhed therein, but by the blood of him that ſhed it. One Murder unpuniſhed, may bring guilt & a curſe upon the whole Land, that all the Inhabitants of the Land ſhall ſuffer for it; So that Mercy to a Murderer is Cruelty to a People. Therefore it is ſaid concerning the Murderer, Thine eye ſhall not pity him but thou ſhalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Iſrael, that it may go well with thee. If the Murderer be not puniſhed it may go ill with the Whole, all may fare the worſe for it; if the ſin be not duly puniſhed, there is a partaking in the guilt of it▪

Reaſ. 2. Becauſe man is made in the Image of God. This reaſon is mentioned Gen. 9. 6. Whoſoever ſheddeth mans blood, by man (i. e. by ſome man in Authority, proceeding in an orderly way of Judicature, as the Hebrew Expoſitors do rightly interpret the words) ſhall his blood be ſhed, for in the Image of God made. He him. p. 13Hence there is Sacrilegious Guilt in this Sin. Amongſt the Romans (d)(d)Sueton, in Tiber. cap. 58.if a man did but ſtrike his Servant near the place where one of their Emperours lay, he was to dye for it, becauſe that was look'd upon as an affront put upon his Imperial Majeſty; ſo he that ſhall kill a man that is made after the Image of God, puts a Contempt upon the DIVINE Majeſty, there is Treaſon againſt God contained in the bloody Bowels of this Sin. Upon this account it is indeed a greater ſin to kill a good man that has the Image of God renewed in him, than to kill a wicked man. Nevertheleſs, that alſo is a Capital Crime; for all men have ſomething (e)(e)Calvin. Rivet. & Pareus in Gen. 9. 6.Gen 9:6of Gods Image remaining in them: not only in that every man has an immortal ſoul, and is in that reſpect more like the immortal God than any other creature in the world, and in that men have a dominion over the Creatures, which is one part of Gods Image; on that account does the Apoſtle ſay, that Man is the Image and Glory of God. 1. Cor. 11, 7. But alſo, in that the Law is written in the hearts of men by Nature; (f)(f)Ames. Theol. lib. 1. cap. 14.though God has executed ſpiritual death upon Mankind for Adam's Apoſtaſy, after a dreadful manner, yet he has moderated that puniſhment; hence men in a natural eſtate, yet cloſe with p. 14ſome practical principles of Piety & Righteouſueſs; as That God ought to be worſhiped, that Men ſhould do as they would be done by: and the like: and many natural men, yet have an image of Vortue; they have ſomething like Grace, a ſhadow of it, they hate flagitious Crimes, and approve of a morally honeſt Converſation; Theſe things ſhew that there are ſome Remainders of the Image of God in men: therefore he that ſhall murder ſuch a creature is worthy of death.

But thus for the Doctrinal handling of the Truth before us. I proceed to make ſome Application. (1.) By way of Information. (2.) For Exhortation.

Infor. 1. This Doctrin juſtifyeth the Authority here, in reſpect of the Sentence of Death which has been paſſed on the Murderer, who is this day to be Executed. There is a man ſtanding before the Lord, and among His people this day, who has done juſt as my Text expreſſeth, he hath ſmitten his Neighbour, and that with an Inſtrument of lorn too, with a cruel Spit made of Iron; the thing proved by ſeveral Witneſſes, and the man that was hurt dyed of that wound, therfore he that has ſmitten him is a Murderer, and muſt ſurely be put to death. Tho' for a long time he denied it, nevertheleſs ſince his Condemnation he has acknowledged it; and yeſterday he confeſſed to me, that he had in his Rage murdered the man, whoſe death and blood has bin p. 15laid to his Charge; he told me that the other gave him ſome ill language whereby he was provoked, and that he ſaid to him, if he came within the door, he would run the Spit into his Bowels; and he was as wicked as he ſaid he would be, ſo that he is guilty of Murder. Therefore none ought to blame Thoſe in Authority for cauſing the Murderer to be put to death; Conſcience to God, & to the People under their Charge, and to their own Souls alſo, has neceſſitated them to do what they have done in this matter. Let every one remember that Scripture, Prov. 28. 17. A man that doth violence to the blood of any perſon, ſhall flee to the Pit, let no man ſtay him; if he has ſhed blood, to the Pit let him go, and flee thither; let all convenient Speed be uſed in the Execution of Juſtice, that ſo the Land may be cleared from blood, and let no man in Authority ſtay him, let no private perſon ſolicit for him. But let us be thankful to God, that we are under ſuch Magiſtrates as will do Juſtice, and Execute Judgment, & puniſh Sin according as the Word of God requires that it ſhould be done.

Infor. 2. Hence, Thoſe Things which have a tendency to, and a degree of Murder in them, muſt needs be evil. e. g. Raſh ſinful Anger is an evil thing, Murder begins there. 'Twas ſaid of thoſe Brethren in Iniquity, Simeon & Levi, That Inſtruments of Cruelty were in their habitations, for in their Anger they ſlew a man, curſed be their p. 16wrath for it was cruel. Gen. 49. 5. 6. And ou… Lord Jeſus Chriſt in His Expoſition of the Sixth Commandment, ſhews, that raſh Anger is a degree of Murder, Mat. 5. 21, 22. You have heard that it was ſaid by them of old time, Ye ſhall not kill, and whoſoever ſhall kill, ſhall be in danger of the Judgement, but I ſay unto you, that whoſoever is angry with his brother without a cauſe ſhall be in danger of the Judgment. There is Man's Judgment-ſeat, and GOD's Judgment-ſeat: Murder makes a man be in danger of the former, ſinful Anger expoſes him to the latter. Not that all Anger is ſinful▪ there is an …nger that is good; when a man is angry in God's cauſe, moved with zeal & indignation becauſe God is diſhonoured; that's very good▪ and a man may ſometimes be angry in his own cauſe too and yet not ſin. Be angry and ſin not. But when men are angry without a juſt cauſe, that's Evil. When they are angry more than they have cauſe for, that they are all in a flame for a meer triſ…e, when (as one well expreſſes it) a man ſhall ſuffer the (g)(g)v. M…. C…ocks Supplement. cap. 9. p. 368.Beco… of his ſoul to be ſit all on …ire at the landing of every ſmall Boat, that's a fooliſh and evil thing; or when men ſhall be angry longer than they ought to be; an implacable ſpirit, is a vile murderous ſpirit. Anger reſts in the boſom of ſools. Sinful Anger is poyſ…, which as ſoon as ever a man has taken it into his mouth, he ſhall ſpit it p. 17out again. And when Anger ſhall break out into Curſes and wicked Imprecations, thats wicked Anger. This condemned man, that ſtands here, confeſſes, that he was wont in his paſſion to curſe all near him. He murdered many a man with his bloody tongue, before he was left of God to murder any with his hand. His mouth was full of Curſing & Bitterneſs, before he ſhed blood. And when men in their Rarge imprecate & curſe themſelvs, its a very evil thing: there are ſome that will ſay, They wiſh they might be hang'd, if ſuch a thing be ſo, and many times the righteous Judgment of God brings that very evil upon 'em▪

There is a Printed Relation concerning (h)(h)Sr. Gerv. Elways. mention'd by Mr. Howel in his Londinop. & by Mr. Ball, of the power of Godlineſs▪ l. 4. c. 3. p. 329. & by Mr. Leigh in his Body of Divinity▪ Lib. 4. Cap. 16. P. 445.a Perſon of Quality that was hang'd for a Crime laid to his charge, and when he came to dye, he confeſſed, that he had been much addicted to that ſinful Recreation of Card-Playing, and that many times when the Game went otherwiſe than he wiſh'd for, he would in his paſſion, wiſh that he might he hang'd if it were ſo, and once he wiſh'd he might be hang'd if ever he play'd agen; and therefore (ſaid he) God is juſt in bringing me to ſuch a death as this. And when Anger ſhall break out into Blows, Quarreling, and Fighting between Neighbours that p. 18ought to live in peace, there is great Evil in it. This miſerable creature before us, acknowledgeth that it was ſo with him. In his mad paſſions he car'd not who he did ſtrike or hurt. It is not good for them that have lawful power to ſtrike others, to do it in paſſion. It is not good for Parents to ſtrike their children, or Maſters their Servants, or School-maſters their Scholars in heat of Anger, le…t they become guilty of breaking the ſixth Commandment. A moral Heathen, when his ſervant had committed a fault that greatly in…en…ed him, ſaid to him, If I were not angry with the…, I would ſtrike thee, but I will ſtay till my paſſion is over before I puniſh thee. Again, a ſpirit of Revenge is an evil thing: it is Murder in God's ſight, 1. Joh. 3. 15. He that hateth his brother is a Murderer. Hatred never reſts but in the deſtruction of the thing ha…ed. To ſay no more here; Cruelty is a degree of Murder, and a great Evil: and moſt of all for men to be cruel to thoſe that ſtand in neareſt Relation to them (as this Malefactor owns that he has been) whom they ought to love dearly, is an high degree of Inhumanity. No man that acted like a man, ever hated his own fleſh. To be cruel, tho to a Servant or Slave, is a very ſinful thing. Nay, Cruelty tho to a Beaſt argueth a murderous, bloody Diſpoſition. The Scripture ſaith, a good man is merciful to his Beaſt. They then that make themſelvs ſport with Putting p. 19dumb creatures to miſery, do very ſinfully. Yet that has been practiſed here of later years in the open Streets, eſpecially on one day of the year. To do it at ſuch a **I intend the Cockſ…alings on Shr…ve▪ Tueſday.Time is vanity & Heatheniſh Superſtition; beſides to make ſport with exerciſing cruelty on dumb creatures, which had never bin miſerable had not the ſins of men made them ſo, it is a wicked thing, and ought not to be among thoſe that call themſelvs Chriſtians.

Infor. 3. If Murder be ſuch a Crime as hath been ſhewed, It is then a ſorrowful thing that ſo many of the Children of men ſhould be found guilty of this Evil. There are ſome places of the world where Murder is a common ſin. The dark corners of the earth, are full of the habitations of Cruelty. And there are many in the world, that call themſelvs Chriſtians, who nevertheleſs delight in ſhedding innocent blood. Perſecutors are Murderers. Bloody Papiſts are in the Scriptures charged with Murder on this account: it is ſaid of them, they repented not of their Murders, Rev. 9. 21. namely of their murdering the Saints of God for their Religion, for the Truth- ſake, and becauſe they would not comply with their Superſtitions and Idolatries. That Mother of Harlot…, the Church of Rome, ſhe has made her ſelf drunk with blood▪ many Millions of Saints have been murdered by her. Perſecutors are Cain's Children. O how many are there going p. 20up and down the world with Cain's bloody clubb in their hands to this day! It was Luther's Saying, Cain will kill Abel to the end of the world, But beſides this, That which the Civil Laws of Nations make to be Murder, is frequent in ſome places. A late Hiſtorian reports, that in the the Kingdom of France, **See Trap. on Geneſ. 9. 6.Gen 9:6within the ſpace of ten years, there were known to be no leſs than 6000 Murders committed. And in popiſh Countries, they have Sanctuaries for Murderers (i)(i)Vide C… ▪ a Lapide in Deut. 19.Deut 19A man that has bin guilty of wilful Murder, if he does but run into a Church (as they call it) or into a Monaſtery, he is protected in thoſe bloody places of Refuge. Their Writers plead for this. And tho no convicted Murderer did ever eſcape the ſtroke of Juſtice in this Land (which is a matter of rejoicing) yet it is a very ſad thing that any in ſuch a place as this ſhould be found guilty of ſuch a Crime: that men ſhould do ſo wickedly in a Land of Ʋprightneſs! but ſo it has been. Divers have been executed for this ſin formerly, and here is one that is to be executed for it this day. And there have been ſeveral Murders committed among us, the Authors of which are not yet known. Some have bin ſo monſtrouſly wicked and unnatural, as to embrew their hands in the blood of their own Children; who they are God knowes, and p. 21will find a time to judg them; and one day we and all the world ſhall know who they are. Beſides theſe, ſeveral others have bin under vehement Suſpition, and tryed for their Lives, on the account of this ſin. We have all cauſe to pray for New-England, as the Lords People of old were directed to do, in caſe of an uncertain Murder, Deut. 21. 7. 8. They ſhall anſwer & ſay, our hands have not ſhed this blood, neither have our eyes ſeen it; Be merciful, O Lord, to thy people Iſrael, whom Thou haſt redeemed, and lay not innocent blood to the people of Iſraels charge: and the blood ſhall be forgiven them. Be merciful, O Lord, to Thy people in New-England, and lay not innocent blood to their Cha…ge!

ƲSE. 2. For Exhortation. There is a double Exhortation before us:

1. Hence men ſhould beware that they do not become guilty of this Sin. It is in Man's corrup-Nature. Nothing is more natural than a ſpirit of Revenge: as we ſee in little Children; which diſcovers that the Children of men bring murderous natures into the world with 'em. Hence the Apoſtle declaring what men by nature are, ſaith, that their feet are ſwift to ſhed blood. Rom. 3. 15. becauſe there is a marvellous Propen…y in Man's nature unto this ſin. Should not the Lord either by ſpecial or common Grace reſtrain them, how many would ſoon become guilty of Murder it ſelf! Yea, and thoſe too that don't p. 22believe any ſuch thing concerning, themſelves. When the Prophet Eliſha told Hazael what a prodigious Murderer he would be, What (ſaid he) am I a Dog, that thou ſhouldſt have ſuch thoughts of me? But in a little time he appeard to be as curſ'd a Blood-hound as ever the Prophet had ſaid to him. O then beware of this ſin. And therefore take heed of giving way to wicked Paſſions. Leſſer ſins make way for greater. And eſpecially take heed of great ſins: For many a man by being guilty of other great ſins, has provoked the Holy GOD to leave him unto this ſin too. The poor condemed Malefactor who ſtands here in the ſight of this congregation, does acknowledge, that he hath by living in other ſins provoked God to leave him unto this, which he muſt now dye for. And he warns others, eſpecially Young Men, to take heed of thoſe ſins, as they love their Lives or Souls. I know not but that it may be for Ediſieation, and tend to God's Glory, if I ſhould read in this great Aſſembly, what I received in Writing from this dying & diſtreſſed Creature. Its this which followeth.

I James Morgan, being Condemned to dye, muſt needs own to the glory of God, that He is righteous, and that I have by my ſins provoked Him to deſtroy me before my time. I have bin a great ſinner, guilty of Sabbath-breaking, of Lying, and of Uncleanneſs; but there are eſpecially two Sins, p. 23whereby I have offended the great God; one is that Sin of Drunkenneſs, which has cauſed me to commit many other Sins; for when in Drink, I have been often guilty of Curſing and Swearing, and quarrelling, and ſtriking others: But the Sin which lies moſt heavy upon my Conſcience, is, that I have deſpiſed the Word of God, and many a time refuſed to hear it preached. For theſe things, I beleeve God has left me to that, which has brought me to a ſhameful & miſerable death. I do therefore beſeech & warn all perſons, young men eſpecially to take heed of theſe Sins, leſt they provoke the Lord to do to them as He has juſtly done by me. And for the further peace of my own Conſcience, I think my ſelf obliged to add this unto my foregoing Confeſſion▪ That I own the Sentence which the Honoured Court has paſſ'd upon me, to be exceeding juſt; in aſ much as (tho I had no former Grudge and Malice againſt the man whom I have killed, yet) my Paſſion at the time of the Fact was ſo out-ragious, as that it hurr…d me on to the doing of that which makes me juſtly now proceeded againſt as a Murderer.

Thus does this miſerable man confeſs. But how many are there in the Congregation, that this may ſtrike terror & trembling into their ſouls▪

O Lord, how many are there in this great Aſſembly, who have lived, and do live in thoſe very ſins, for which this Man confeſſeth that God has been provoked to deſtroy him! Let ſinners hear & take warning this day: This man now p. 24that the Terrors of God have awakned his ſoul, bitterly complains of two Sins eſpecially; one is that of Drunkenneſs. And indeed, Drunkenneſs has bin a bloody ſin; it has bin the cauſe of many a Murder. The man here, who is now flying to the Pit, confeſſeth that in his Drink, he was wont to Curſe & Swear, and to quarrel, and ſtrike thoſe near him; and he acknowledged to me, that he had made himſelf grievouſly drunk the day before he was left of God to commit the Murder which he now muſt dye for; yea, and that he had that very night bin drinking to exceſs, and that he was not clear of drink at the time when he did the bloody Fact. And does not the Scripture ſay, Who has wo, who has ſorrow, who has contentions, who has babling, who has wounds without cauſe? They that tarry long at the Wine—&c. Prov. 23. 29, 30. Wicked men when they are in drink, will fall to Quarrelling; words will bring on blows, and thoſe blows will cauſe wounds, and thoſe wounds may perhaps prove mortal: and then, what Woe & Sorrow followes! O how many have by means of this ſin, been guilty of Interpretative Murder … They have cauſed others to dye by making them drunk. There has been an horrible thing done in this place; ſome wicked perſons (who they are God knows) have given or ſold ſtrong Liquors to the Indians, and made them drunk alſo, and ſeveral of them have dyed in that condition: p. 25Let ſuch know, that the Lord will judg them; yea, He will judg 'em as Men that have ſhed blood ſhall be judged; they muſt anſwer for the blood of Souls and Bodyes too, Moſt wicked and miſerable Creatures they are, that to gain a few pence, will bring upon themſelvs the guilt of the blood of Souls & of Bodies too! And this bloody ſin of Drunkenneſs has bin the cauſe of many a Self-Murder: how many have made themſelvs the woful Martyrs of Bacchus thereby. By Drunkenneſs & Intemperance▪ they have brought their Bodies to the Grave, and their Souls to Hell before their time. It is an unhappy thing that of later years, a kind of Strong ††Reverend Mr▪ Wilſon once ſaid in a Sermon, there is a ſort of drink come into the country, which is called Kill-Devil, but it ſhould be call'd, Kill-men for the Devil.Drink kath been common amongſt us, which the poorer ſort of people, both in Town & Country, can make themſelves drunk with, … cheap & eaſy rates. They that are poor and wicked too (Ah moſt miſerable Creatures) can for a peny or two pence make themſelvs drunk. I wiſh to the Lord, ſome remedy might be thought of, for the prevention of this evil. It's a very ſad thing, that ſo many Bodyes & Souls ſhould be eternally ruin'd, and no help for it. How few are there, that if once they be addicted to …his vice, do ever truly repent of it or turn from it. p. 26There was a Man, who hearing that his Son took evil courſes, and that he followed ſuch a vice, well, (ſaid he) I hope he'll leave that; and that he was given to another vice, I hope (ſaid he) he'll leave that too; but it was told him that his Son was given to Drunkenneſs alſo; Nay, then (ſaid he) I have no hope of him. I will not ſay (as he did) There is no hope that ever a Drunkard ſhould repent, but I ſay, there have been but few ſuch Inſtances in the world. How rarely have any of you known a man that has been addicted to this Body-deſtroying, and Soul-murdering Iniquity, that has truly repented of it, or turned from it again! O then, Let Men that have any love for their Lives or Souls, beware of this bloody Sin.

But the other Evil which this undone Man does eſpecially cry out of, and which (now that he ſeeth his Soul going into Eternity) he ſaith, lies moſt heavy upon his Conſcience, is his Deſpiſing the Word of God. I do not wonder to hear him ſpeak ſo, for I have known ſeveral Condemned perſons, who have made the ſame out-cry: O nothing terrifies our Conſciences like the thought of This, that we have neglected the Means of grace; And what think you of Sinners in Hell, who are wayling for this with tears of blood for ever & ever? whoſe doleful and bitter cry, is, O the Sermons which we once heard, or might have heard but would not! Ten p. 27Thouſand worlds would we give for an opportunity to hear one of thoſe Sermons again, with any hope of finding Mercy with God. O you that have lived under the Goſpel, but deſpiſed it, think of this. Verily I ſay unto you, all the ſins in the world will not damn like this: Suppoſe a man to have bin guilty of Adultry, or Murder, or the moſt horrid Tranſgreſſions againſt the Law of God, theſe will not damn his Soul like that of Deſpiſing the Word of God. For this is the Condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men love Darkneſs rather than Light. And How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great Salvation? They that ſhall be found guilty of neglecting the great Salvation offered in the Goſpel, cannot eſcape the wrath of God, to the utmoſt of it. And this is true, not only concerning ſuch as have lived under the conſtant Preaching of the Goſpel, and yet remain, and live & dye in a natural unconverted eſtate; but of them alſo that might hear the Word of God but will not: concerning Such, Chriſt ſaith, It ſhall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of Judgment, than for them. Mat. 10. 15. This dying man, now that his Conſcience is awaken▪d, ſaith, It is a terrour to him to think, I might have heard the Word of God preached many a time, but refuſed it. He neglected to hear Sermons, not only on Lecture dayes, but on Lords-Dayes too: when he was a Servant, he p. 28was wont (as himſelf ſaith) on Sabbath-Days, to go out into the Fields, and there to profane the Lords Dayes, at the very time when he might and ought to have bin hearing the Word of God: and ſince he had a Family, his cuſtom was to keep at home, when others were attending the publick Worſhip of God. And he told me, that he did fooliſhly pleaſe himſelf in thinking that he had ſufficient reaſon to ſtay at home, becauſe he had not clothes good enough to appear publickly in; whenas the mony that he miſſpent in drink would have procur'd him Cloatheing. Let others then by his Example be warned againſt this evil, leſt they provoke God, and feel ſorrow for it, as he has done, I doubt there are very many in this great Town, guilty of his ſin in this particular, perhaps ſome that are profeſſors of Religion, which is dreadful to think on. I hear ſome ſay, that there are many Hundreds, nay, ſome Thouſands in this place, that ſeldom hear a Sermon preached, from one end of the year to the other: if that be ſo, it is very lamentable. What is like to become of the ſouls of ſuch profane perſons? If they that are in place of power (be they Superior or Inferior Officers) can poſſibly redreſs this evil, they will certainly do a Service acceptable to GOD, and to our Lord JESUS CHRIST.

But I proceed to the Second Exhortation. If Murder be ſuch a Crime as has bin declared, then

p. 29Let whoever has been guilty of this Sin be humbled for it, and repent of it. As for Interpretative Murder, many are guilty of that. O how many have by Debauchery & Intemperance, ſhortened the lives of themſelvs or others! let ſuch repent, and turn from their ſins unto God. But I hope there is none in this vaſt Aſſembly, that has bin guilty of that Murder which is by the Law of God and of the Land a Capital Crime, excepting one man, and one ſuch perſon there is here preſent, unto whom I ſhall now particularly apply my ſelf. Do you then hear, that your ſoul may live. This is the Laſt Sermon that ever you ſhall hear. Time was when you might have heard Sermons but would not, and now you ſhall not hear them, tho' you would. For as God ſaid to him, This night thy ſoul ſhall be required of thee; ſo I ſay to you in His Name, This night thy ſoul ſhall be taken from thee: This night your ſoul ſhall be in Heaven or Hell for ever. You are appointed to dye this day, and after death commeth the Judgment. As ſoon as your Body is dead, your immortal ſoul muſt appear before the great GOD and Judg of all, and a Sentence of everlaſting Life, or Everlaſting Death ſhall be paſſed upon you. Are you willing when thoſe Chains, which are about you, ſhall be taken off, that your immortal ſoul ſhould be hang'd in everlaſting Chains? Are you willing that when your Body is removed from the Priſon, your Soul p. 30ſhould go to the Spirits that are in priſon? You have complain'd that you have bin in a Dungeon, and had little light there; but are you willing to go where you ſhall never ſee light? Are you willing that when your Body is delivered from this Dungeon, your Soul ſhould go into that Dungeon, where is Blackneſs of darkneſs for ever? If not I charge you in the Name of God to hear and obey his Word; yea, that Word which you have many a time deſpiſed. I have ſpoken ſo often to you in private, ſince your being Apprehended, that I ſhall not need to ſay much now, only a few words.

1. Conſider what a ſinner you have bin. The Sin which you are to die for, is as red as Scarlet; and many other ſins, hath your wicked life been filled with. You have been a ſtranger to me, I never ſaw you, I never heard of you, till you, had committed the Murder for which you muſt dye this day; but I hear by others, that have known you, how wicked you have been: and you have your ſelf confeſſed to the world, that you have been guilty of Drunkenneſs, guilty of Curſing & Swearing, guilty of Sabbath-breaking, guilty of Lying, guilty of ſecret Uncleanneſs; as Solomon ſaid to Shimei, Thou knoweſt the wickedneſs which thine own heart is privy unto: ſo I ſay to you. And that which aggravates your Guiltineſs not a little, is, That ſince you have been in Priſon, you have done wickedly: you have made your ſelf drunk ſeveral times ſince your Impriſonment; p. 31yea, and you have bin guilty of Lying ſince your Condemnation. It was ſaid to a dying man, Doſt not thou fear God, ſeeing thou art under Condemnation! Oh what a ſinner have you bin! for ſince you have bin under Condemnation, you have not feared God. And how have you ſinned againſt the Goſpel? What Unbelief, what Impenitency have you bin guilty of!

Conſider 2. What Miſery you have brought upon your ſelf, on your Body, that muſt dye an … ed death: you muſt hang between Heaven and Earth, as it were forſaken of both, and unworthy to be in either. And what Miſery have you brought upon your poor Children! you have brought an everlaſting Reproach upon them. How great will their Shame be, when it ſhall be ſaid to them, that their Father was hang'd, not for his goodneſs, as many in the world have bin, but for his wickedneſs: not as a Martyr, but as a Malefactor, truly ſo! But that which is Ten Thouſand Thouſand times worſe than all this, is, That you have (without Repentance) brought undoing Miſery upon your poor yet precious Soul: not only Death on your Body, but a Second Death on your never-dying Soul. It is ſaid in the Scripture, That Murderers ſhall have their part in the lake, which burns with fire and brimſtone, which is the Second Death. Rev. 21. 8. O tremble at that! I remember a Man that was condemned and Executed in this place ſome years ago, that had been a Souldier, p. 32and as ſtout a ſpirited man as moſt in the World, who when he came to dye, thus expreſſed himſelf to a Miniſter that treated with him about his Soul; I (ſaid he) never knew what Fear meant, tho' I have bin amongſt drawn Swords, and before the Cannons mouth; I feared not death; but now you tell me of a Second Death, it makes my Soul to ſhake within me! That's a Death, the Thoughts whereof may make the ſoul of the ſtouteſt Sinner in the world to tremble; for that's a death which is ETERNAL. The things which are ſeen are temporal, but the things which are not ſeen are ETERNAL. The death of the Body, that's ſeen, and is ſoon over; but what becomes of the Soul when a Sinner dyeth, they that ſtand by him do not ſee, but if he dye impenitent, the Death which is not ſeen takes hold on him, and it is eternal. The God againſt whom he has ſinned, liveth for ever to puniſh him. And a fearful thing it is, to fall into the hands of the ever-living God. O run not into the mouth of the Second Death, into the wide Mouth of the fiery Pit, which has devoured Millions of Millions of immortal ſouls; and know you for certain, that if you die impenitent, your Damnation will be no ordinary one: for you have not only tranſgreſſ'd againſt the Law of God, with a high hand, but ſinn'd againſt the Goſpel too. The Sermons which you have heard formerly, or might have done, will be as ſo many p. 33witneſſes againſt you, before the Judgment ſeat of Chriſt: the 3 Sermons which have bin preached to you in publick, ſince your Condemnation, the pains that has bin taken with you in private by one or other of the Lords Servants; all theſe will aggravate your Condemnation, when you ſhall be judged again, before all the world at the laſt Day, if you dye impenitent.

Conſider. 3. There's yet a Poſſibility that your ſoul may be ſaved. Notwithſtanding all that has bin ſpoken to you, don't deſpair; repent but do not deſpair. I would not have you ſay as Cain did, My ſin is greater than can be forgiven. The Lord is a merciful God. Tho' Men cannot forgive you, God can; and He will do it, if you unſeignedly repent & believe on the Lord Jeſus. There is infinite Merit in the Death of Chriſt: if your bloody ſoul be waſh'd in his blood, it ſhall be made whiter than the Snow. That Sin which you muſt now dye for, God has forgiven to others upon their true Repentance. Manaſſeh filled the ſtreets of Jeruſalem with innocent blood, but when he humbled himſelf, and beſought the Lord for Mercy, God was entreated of him. O therefore Repent, and then though your Body muſt dye, your Soul ſhall live and not dye.

I have but two words more to ſay to you, and then I ſhall take my leave of you for ever.

1. Be ſure that you be ſincere in your Repentance. Many times men under Fears, will ſeem very penitent p. 34whenas they do but flatter God with their mouths, and lye unto him with their tongues. Thus it was with Pharoah, and with many a ſinner, whoſe hard heart was never broken nor changed; we ſee often, that ſinners on ſick beds, when they behold Death & Eternity before their eyes, will confeſs their ſins and promiſe Reformation; but if the Lord ſpare & reſtore them, they are the ſame that they were before. And we have known Inſtances among our ſelvs, of men, that when they have bin Captive, and in Turkiſh Slavery, they have pretended to a ſenſe of thoſe ſins which provoked the Moſt High to bring that miſery upon them, and have written ſeemingly pious & penitent Letters to their Friends, but now God has delivered them they are as vain as profane as ungodly as ever in their lives before; nay, ſome of them worſe. For the Truth is, if men be not humbled and converted by ſuch ſignal Diſpenſations, many times they are judicially & everlaſtingly hardned: They never leave ſinning until they have ſinned themſelvs into Hell, paſt all hopes of Mercy or Recovery. To come nearer to you, I have known ſome, more than one or 2 or 3, that have bin condemned to dye, and whileſt they remained under that Sentence, they ſeemed very penitent, but they were pardoned (for they had not bin guilty of Murder, as you have) and ſince that, have bin as wicked as ever O then look to your ſelf, that you do not diſſemble with GOD and Man, and your own p. 35Soul too. And let not the Fear of Puniſhment only, but the Senſe of Mercy break your heart.

2. In this way of ſincere Repentance, Betake your ſelf to the City of Refuge. Go to Chriſt for Life. The wilful man ſlayer had (as you heard but now) no benefit by the City of Refuge; ſo ſhall impenitent Sinners have no Salvation by Chriſt: but they that have a real ſight of their Sins, and flee from the Avenger of blood unto Chriſt for life, He is ready to ſuccour them. Poor man! has the fiery Serpent ſtung thy ſoul? then look unto the Brazen Serpent, look unto the Lord Jeſus that you may live and not dye forever. Build your hopes of Salvation on Chriſt & His Righteouſneſs alone. Don't think you ſhall be ſaved only becauſe good men have pray'd for you, or for the Confeſſion of your ſins which you have now made, or for the ſake of any thing but CHRIST. And I pray the Son of GOD to have Compaſſion on you.

The Laſt Expreſſions & ſolemn Warning of James Morgan: As they were in Short-hand taken from his Mouth, at the Place of Execution. Mar. 11. 85 / 6.

I Pray God that I may be a Warning to you all, and that I may be the laſt that ever ſhall ſuffer after this manner: in the fear of God I warn you to have a care of taking the Lords Name in vain, Mind & have a care of that ſin of Drunkenneſs, for that ſin leads to all manner of ſins and Wickedneſs: p. 36(mind & have a care of breaking the ſixth Commandment, where it is ſaid, Thou ſhalt do no Murder) for when a man is in Drink, he is reaready to commit all manner of Sin, till he fill up the cup of the wrath of God, as I have done by committing that ſin of Murder. I beg of God as I am a dying man, and to appear before the Lord within a few minutes, that you may take notice of what I ſay to you. Have a care of drunkenneſs, & ill Company, and mind all good Inſtruction, and don't turn your back upon the Word of God, as I have done. When I have bin at meeting, I have gone out of the meetinghouſe to commit ſin & to pleaſe the luſt of my fleſh. Don't make a mock at any poor object of pity, but bleſs God that he has not left you as he has juſtly done me to commit that horrid ſin of Murder. Another thing that I have to ſay to you, is to have a care of that houſe where that wickedneſs was commited, & where I have …in partly ruind by. But here I am, and know not what will become of my poor ſoul which is within a few moments of eternity. I have murder'd a poor man, who …d but little time to repent, and I know not what is become of his poor ſoul; O that I may make uſe of this opportunity that I have! O that I may make improvement of this little little time, before I go hence and be no more. O let all mind what I am a ſaying now I'm going out of this world. O take warning by me, and beg of God to keep you from this ſin which has bin my ruine. [His laſt words were] O Lord, receive my ſpirit, I come unto thee O Lord, I come unto thee O Lord; I come, I come, I come.

THE CALL OF THE GOSPEL APPLYED Unto All men in general, and Ʋnto a Condemned Malefacto in particular.

In a SERMON, Preached on the 7th Day of March. 1686.

At the Requeſt, and in the Hearing of a man under a juſt Sentence of Death for the horrid SIN of MƲRDER.

By COTTON MATHER. Paſtor to a Church at Boſton in N. E.

The SECOND EDITION.

Pſal. 89. 1. I will ſing of the mercies of the Lord for ever, with my mouth will I make known thy Faithfulneſs to all generations.

Nulla ſpecies Peccati tanta eſt qua non ſit Superior JESUS. Orig.

Printed at Boſton, by Richard Pierce. 1687.

p. 38To the Reader.

ALtho' my Conſent to the Publication of the enſuing Sermon had no ſmall Objections to Encounter with: for, Firſt, The ſhort time allow▪d me for Preparation after I was (by the littleexpected dying Deſire of a poor man) diverted from my ſpending the whole of the Sabbath with a bereaved Congregation to which my help was promiſed; and Next, the Regard to be had unto the Adminiſtration of the Lords Supper, which now in the Abſence of an Honoured Relation that kindly anſwered my Engagement elſewhere I was to keep ſome Eye unto; both neceſſitated me to want in this Diſcourſe that Accuracy & that full pertinency which might recommend i… unto the Iudicious; Nevertheleſs, ſo long as among all the Faults in it, I found not this, That it was not d…ſigned to do good, and ſo long as among all the Pleas (which in a curious & captious age my love to my own r…poſe brought) againſt …he omitting of it, I never met with this, That It was impoſſible any good ſhould be done by it, I have at the urgent Importunity of others ventur'd to deliver it into the Hands of as many as ſhall think▪ themſelves concerned to peruſe it: Praying that it may reach & touch the hearts of them, to whom a Chriſt ſhould be a Pearl of great Price, till they LOOK unto HIM and be SAVED.

Cotton Mather.