Sinners Directed to Hear and Fear, Speech – Testimonial
At the Execution of Jeremiah Meacham, (at Newport on Rhode-Iſland) April the 12th. 1715.
HE declared, that being diſſatisfyed in his mind, ſome time in the beginning of the laſt year, concerning ſomething about Religion, he could not obtain the ſatisfaction that he deſired, from thoſe whom he applied himſelf unto: Then ſome uneaſineſs in his Family was occaſioned or encreaſed, partly thro' his own diſcontentment: After this, he tho't his Neighbours look'd ſtrangely upon him; & he feared ſome body or other deſigned to do ſome miſchief unto him. And every day ſeemed unto him, as if it were the laſt day that he ſhould live, until the 22d day of March laſt; when, (after abundance of hurry in his mind, for ſeveral days,) he got upon his Houſe, and ſat there ſome time, with a Penknife in his hand, as afraid of his life; then came into his Houſe; and for the moſt part of the Afternoon of that day, he kept in his Chamber, until near darkiſh; then he deſired his Wife to come up to him, (if ſhe deſired her Siſter to come up) and while he threatned all others that offered to come up to him, with an Ax in his hand, (bidding them to ſtand off,) and his Wife and Siſter endeavoured to perſwade him to go down, or elſe endeavoured to hinder him from hurting of himſelf; then he ſtruck the dreadful, cruel, mortal blows upon thoſe his dear Relations, without any malice or hatred (as he ſaid) or fore-thought of miſchief to either of them; (although ſeveral Evidences at his Tryal before the Court, had poſitively declared, that he had uſed very uncomfortable Carriage and Language toward his Wife, long before that time:) Then he read ſome things that he had got written, for the Warning of all People; ſaying, that he as little thought as any of them all, that ever he ſhould come into ſuch lamentable Circumſtances; and therefore would have them to take heed to themſelves, that they might, none of them, come to ſuch an Untimely End. In the Paper that he read, were contained ſuch as theſe things following.
AS a poor Miſerable Sinner, going into the Eternal World, not knowing as yet, what will become of my Precious Immortal Soul; but deſiring, entirely to rely on the rich and free Grace of God in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for all Salvation.
I earnestly wish, that all People may take Warning by me, to ſhun all wayes of Sinning againſt God.
I wiſh, that they may beware of beginning to forſake the Lord; That they may be careful in attending all the Duties of Religion, Secret, Private, and Publick; That they they may take heed to their Wayes, that they Sin not with their Tongues, but be in the Fear of the Lord all the day long.
I wiſh that Young People may Remember their Creator in the Dayes of their Youth; and avoid all Sinful Diſobedience to their Superiors; and early comply with the offers of the Goſpel, and the Motions of the Spirit of God, that they may not provoke the Lord, as I have done.
I wiſh, that Married People may keep clear from all Contention in their Families, and from all Diſcontentment with the Condition wherein God hath placed them, and may help one another forward in the way toward Heaven.
I deſire to juſtifie the Glorious God, in all that he orders for me, ſubmitting to his Will; and to acknowledge the Juſtice of the Honourable Government, in the Sentence of Death paſſed upon me: For I muſt own, that I deſerve to Die for my horrible Wickedneſs.
I deſire to forgive all that have any way injured me; and that God may forgive them all, as heartily, (ſo far as I know mine own heart) as I deſire that God may forgive me; and that they may forgive me, whom I have grievouſly injured. Oh! Let all Chriſtians pray for me.
Jeremiah Meacham. 12th D. 2d M. 1715
Having read the preceeding things, deſiring leave to preſent his Petitions to Heaven, he made the following prayer, (as it was taken in ſhort hand.)
O Moſt Great and Glorious Lord God, who diddeſt Create Heaven and Earth; Lord, I acknowledge that thou haſt the diſpoſing of all things; Lord, I deſire that thou wouldeſt make me ſuch an one, as thou wouldeſt have me to be. And Lord, I pray that thou wouldeſt blot out all my ſins, that they may be blotted out of thy book, that they may never riſe up in Judgment againſt me; Lord, I acknowledge, that thou mighteſt a long time ago, have ſent me into Eternity, which I am now going into. And therefore Lord, I pray thee that thou wouldeſt now blot out all my tranſgreſſions, for thy names ſake and forgive all the Iniquity that is in me. And Lord, I Pray thee, be with all that are here, and bleſs them. And be with me, that am juſt going out of this World into the Eternal Ocean: Receive me, O Lord, into thy Heavenly Kingdom, to be at thy right Hand, where is pleaſure for-evermore: And Lord, be with my Children, that have niether Father nor Mother to look after them; be as Father and Mother unto them: Lord, have Mercy on them and on me, for the ſake of thy Son the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. The God of Peace, that brought again from the dead the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, make me perfect in every good work through Jeſus Chriſt; The Grace of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt be with me now and for-evermore.
After he had been recommended by the Prayers of others, unto the Mercies of Heaven; He Prayed again for himſelf, thus,
O O Moſt Great and Glorious Lord God, who art a God that doſt hear, Prayers; Lord, pardon my Sin, now or never; now for ever; Now I am going out of this World into Eternity; Lord Jeſus, thou waſt made Sin, who knoweſt no Sin, that Sinners might be made Righteous thro' thee: Thou art the Way, the Truth and the Life; There is no way to be Saved, but only in and thro' thee; Lord, when my Breath is gone, I pray thee to receive my Soul: And be pleaſed that I may have a right to a Manſion in Heaven among thy Saints. Lord, be pleaſed to pardon every one of my ſins; not only this great Sin, but every Sin: And if there be any one Sin, that is not remembred, and ſo is not▪ Repented of: Lord, be pleaſed this very moment, to forgive that Sin, that it may never riſe up in Judgment againſt me: And, Lord, be pleaſed to enable me to go thro' what I muſt endure, and that I, may▪ arrive at the Shore of Eternal Felicity; Blot out all my Iniquity, that I may be prepared for the Bleſſed and Glorious Inheritance in Heaven, reſerv'd for them, who are kept by the mighty power of God; through Faith unto Salvation.
After his Eyes had been covered, he deſired, that he might once more ſee the Sun: Then Expreſſed himſelf to this purpoſe; Lord, as thou haſt made the Sun, that glorious Body to ſhine in the Firmament; I pray thee, let the Sun of Righteouſneſs graciouſly ſhine upon my Diſtreſſed Soul.
And after declaring his deſire to Commit his Soul into the Merciful Hands of the Glorious Redeemer; and ſaying, Lord Jeſus, receive my Spirit! He was turn'd off; leaving 'tis thought, ſeveral thouſands of Spectators to learn Righteouſneſs by the Tremendous and Aſtoniſhing Diſpenſations of God.
BY the Requeſt of the Reverend Nathaniel Clap, who was Preſent at the aforeſaid Execution, with my Self; I have Peruſed the Fore-going Dying Words of the Criminal; and preſume they are as near the Truth, as could be taken at that time.
Samuel Cranſton, Govr. Newport on Rhode-Iſland, April 15th. 1715.