The Woeful Effects of Drunkenness, Title page – Letter
The Woful Effects OF Drunkenness.
A SERMON Preached at Bristol, … When Two INDIANS, Joſias and Joſeph, Were Executed for … Occaſioned By the Drunkenneſs both of the Murthering & Murthered Parties.
By Samuel Danforth, Paſtor of the Church of Taunton.
Hoſea 3 1.
—They Love flagons of Wine
Galat 5 21.
—Murders, Drunkenneſs.—
BOSTON in New-England: Printed by B Green Sold by Samuel Gerriſh at his Shop near the Old Meeting Houſe, in Corn Hill. 1710
To the HONOURABLE COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE Goſpelliſing the Indians in AMERICA.
Much Honoured.
IN Teſtimony of my humble Submiſſion, due Reverence & Gratitude to your Selves, I have tranſcribed this Sermon, Preached at the Execution of Joſias and Joſeph, Indians; On Octob. 12. 1709. It is matter of deep Sorrow and Humiliation, that they ſhould bring themſelves to ſuch an untimely Death. The Lord grant that both Engliſh and Indians may be duely affected therewith, ſo as to labour after an exact Watchfulneſs againſt the Sin of Drunkenneſs, which … brought theſe Perſons to this Shameful and Woful End. I have not you learned that either of theſe two Indians were conſtant in Hearing the Word Preached any where, but have been told, they were diſorderly, and took bad Courſes; & very Ignorant: Yet the Care and Pains taken with them ſince their Apprehenſion, and Impriſonment; and eſpecially ſince their Condemnation; … order to the preparing them for …eath, by the Reverend Mr. John …, Paſtor of the Church in Briſtol; who did ſeveral times Viſit them in the Goal, and diſcourſe with … by an Interpreter: Alſo by … an Ordained Paſtor … Church, who kept with … Goal, for the ſpace of … Dayes before their Execution, … by Order of the Honourable …amuel Sewall Eſqr. Judge of the Court) are to be Thankfully acknowledged; and the viſible Effects thereof were theſe, That theſe Indians were brought to ſuch a ſenſe of the greatneſs of the Sin of Murder, they had Committed, as to acknowledge, that their Condemnation was juſt; that they were very heartily Sorry they had committed Murther, and lamented their Drunkenneſs, which expoſed them unto the Commiſſion of that other horrid Sin: Alſo they two (with William Symonds) Spent the Saturday Night preceding their Execution, almoſt wholly in Prayer, Confeſſing their Sins to God, and Crying to Him for Pardon of them for Chriſt's Sake. They behaved themſelves with a Solid and Grave Deportment, both in the Publick Aſſembly, and at the Place of Execution. Joſias expreſſed himſelf to be willing to dye, and that he was not without ſome Hopes that God would Pardon him, and Save him: and after William Symonds had Pray'd with him, at his requeſt, he did himſelf make a ſhort Prayer in Indian, on the Ladder. Alſo Joſeph having firſt deſired William Symonds to Pray with him, when on the Ladder, did make a ſhort Speech in Indian, deſiring all the Indians (many of whom were Spectators) to take Warning by him, and to avoid Drunkenneſs.
That there may be a Remarkable Divine Bleſſing attending your Indefatigable Cares and Endeavours, to bring the Indians to the Knowledge and Practiſe of the Chriſtian Religion, and to the Reforming them from all manner of Vice and Profaneneſs, is the Sincere Prayer of,
Honourable SIRS, Your very Humble Servant, S. Danforth. … 29… … 1709.