Sinners Directed to Hear and Fear, Title page
Sinners Directed to Hear & Fear, and do no more ſo Wickedly. Being an Impartial Account of the Inhumane and Barbarous Murder, Committed by Jeremiah Meacham, On his Wife and her Siſter, at Newport on Rhode-Iſland, March 22d. 1715. With ſome Account of his Life, Tryal, Carriage before and after Condemnation; his Confeſſion, Prayers, and Laſt Dying Words at the Place of Execution, which was April the 12th. 1715.
Alſo a SERMON Preached in his Hearing: On Pſalm LI. 17.
By Mr. Nathaniel Clap, Miniſter of the Goſpel in Newport, Rhode-Iſland.
Boſton, Printed by J. Allen, for N. Boone, at the Sign of the Bible in Cornhill, 1715.
A Narrative OF Jeremiah Meacham.
THE Man that occaſioned the Preaching of the Enſuing Sermon, was Born at, or near Salem, and Lived there, and in ſeveral other places of Boſton Province near half his Dayes, before he came into Rhode-Iſland Colony, where he Married and continued, until he was more than Forty Years Old.
Furniſhed with a good Natural Underſtanding, and a ſtrong Memory: Such a Religious Education was beſtowed upon him in his younger time, and ſuch powerful influences of the Spirit of God accompanied the Means of Grace enjoyed by him; that he appeared, in the Opinion of ſome, remarkable for his Religious Converſation, before he began to caſt off Religion.
But when he had abandoned the Society of thoſe that were viſibly Godly, and became aſſociated with ſome that were openly wicked (in Providence:) He quickly grew wofully indifferent about the things of Godlineſs, and more and more inclinable unto the ways of wickedneſs; neglecting the Publick Worſhip of God, Prophaning the Lords-Day, ſpeaking worſe than he ſhould have done about ſome of the Duties of Chriſtianity.
Yet when he came to be Maſter of a Family, (in Newport) he attended Family-Prayer (as he ſaid) above a year; but afterward that was omitted, (as he told) by reaſon of ſome difference in his Family. Whatever he did about Cloſet Prayer.
Having for ſome time neglected the Religious Obſervation of the Chriſtian Sabbath, he pretended ſome concernment about the Seventh Day, but never appeared conſcientious in obſerving that day; nor could he own, that he had renounced his Infant Baptiſm; nor had he worn off all the good impreſſions, made on his Soul, by the Means of Grace afforded to him in his Childhood. And all this while, he was generally eſteemed exemplarily exact in his Dealings, and punctual to his Promiſes, about his Worldly Affairs; He could boaſt among his Neighbours about this part of Moral Honeſty: Tho' they could charge him too truly with ſpeaking too largely ſometimes in his Romantick Diſcourſes.
But he ſeldom or never ſeemed altogether free from ſome terrible reflections upon his Conſcience, for his Apoſtaſy from God. And it hath been thought that his Convictions about ſome Concerns of his Soul, mixed with ſome vexations about his Affairs in the World, brought him into a grievous hurry, which by degrees boil'd up into a ſort of a raging fury: And keeping out of the way of ſuitable directions for his Soul, his troubles of mind grew ſo intolerable, that he told ſome, that he was weary of his Life.
And the Enemies of Souls doubtleſs were not wanting in their endeavours with him, to carry all things the wrong way. For he ſaid, he was advis'd, To drink away his troubles; To kill his troubles of mind by drinking of Strong Drink to exeeſs: And he owned, That he had tried ſeveral times, what this way would do; but he found by ſad experience, that this was not the right way to get eaſe, for the troubles of his mind returned as the Spirits of the Drink removed.
Things grew ſo uncomfortable with him, that he loved not Home; he thought that all his Neighbours looked ſtrangely upon him; he pretended that he feared ſome body deſigned miſchief againſt him, and that he ſhould be ſlain. Every day ſeemed unto him as it if would be the laſt day of his life: And he asked of others, if they knew of no contrivance againſt him.
The Day before he committed his Murders, he appeared mightily diſtreſſed, walking about in a very great agony, a great part of that day, chuſing to be at the Neighbours. But on the ſaid day of his Murders, (22 d. 1 m) he got and ſat upon his Houſe, with a Penknife in his hand, for ſeveral hours, if diſcourſing ſometimes with thoſe that came near him, ſeeming afraid ſome or other would hurt him; Others feared more that he would hurt himſelf; none ſeemed much to fear that he intended any hurt to any body elſe. And he declar'd, that he would hurt neither Man, Woman nor Child, if they would let him alone.
After he came down from his Houſe top into his Chamber, he kept there moſt part of the Afternoon of that day, until after Sun ſet; and then his Wife, and her Siſter, upon his invitation, going up to him, urging of him to go down with them, or ſtriving with him to keep him from hurting of himſelf; it ſeems that then he ſtruck his Wife in her throat with his Pen-knife; and then ſtruck her and her Siſter down with an Ax (that he had carried up, and he had alſo Charged his Gun; but made no uſe of that, in his Murders) how many blows he gave them, is not known: But the dreadful marks of ſeveral remained on their miſerably mangled Bodies.
When he had murdered them, he ſtood watchfully upon his Guard, with his Ax in hand, threatning all that offered to come up Stairs; knock'd one man down with his bloody Ax. Others endeavouring to apprehend him, by breaking up the Chamber Floor under him, & the Roof over him; he laboured to defend himſelf, as if againſt the worſt Enemies. And when they carried ſome Fire, flaming to light their way before them, he ſnatch'd away the Fire, and laid it among ſome combuſtible matter, and got ready more, and quickly kindled a great Fire in the midſt of the Chamber, as if he choſe rather to Burn himſelf alive, and the deal Bodies with him than to be taken: but finding the Chamber quickly growing too hot for him, and he being very hot with conſtant motion; he ſprung out headlong at the Window among the People, that were now ſurrounding of his Houſe.
At ſome time or other, in theſe hurries it ſeems, he had cut his own throat; but fearing that death would not come ſoon enough that way, and finding that he could not bear burning to death; it was thought, he was willing to try, if he could daſh himſelf to pieces, by throwing himſelf out at the Window; by which he alſo hurt his head, if no other part of his Body; but his Wounds were near healed, before he came to Dye.
After his Apprehenſion, he ſeemed for ſome time too ſtupid and ſoftiſh, and willing to palliate his Murders, pretending fear that others intended to Murder him; and that he did what, he did in an hurry.
And when he was carried next day to ſee the Murdered Bodies, he acknowledged that it was a ſad ſight; but none ſeemed more unconcern'd at the ſadneſs of the ſight than he, that had moſt reaſon of all to be ſadly concern'd at ſuch an amazing Spectacle.
In the time of his Impriſonment, he remained too long wonderfully inſenſible about the miſerable condition of his Soul, yet mighty ready to reſent provocations; whereof it muſt be confeſſed, that he had enough. Too many perſons coming to him, and ſome of them none of the beſt, nor upon the beſt deſigns, very much hindered the well improvement of his flying time, to the beſt advantage: Notwithſtanding he ſeemed under continual expectation that he muſt dye for his Murders; and was deſirous of the Prayers and Counſels, that he tho't might be for his benefit, and willing to Read and Hear good Books to direct and aſſiſt, and excite his Preparation for Death; but ſeemed moſt of all to prize the Holy Bible; and by degrees came to a better ſenſe of his lamentable Circumſtances, and frequently declared that he valued not this World, if he might be well prepared for a better; and was obſerved ſeveral times in Priſon to warn others that came near him to Shun thoſe wayes of Sins, that he had found pernicious to himſelf; and was mightily concern'd for the Welfare of his poor Children, that they might be bro't up in the fear of God, and brought under the wings and the bonds of the Covenant of Grace. The ſtill more hopeful tokens of a real work of Saving Grace upon his own heart would have been very deſirable; tho' he was not without repeated intreaties of Prayer, that he might be made thorowly ſenſible of his Wickedneſs, and prepared for Pardon thro' the Blood of Chriſt.
At his Tryal, (… D. 2 M 1715.) he could not deny the Murders, but pleaded, that he was not himſelf, and ſo knew not what he did, when he committed them. Though he could remember the circumſtances of the Murders. And his Neighbours generally thought that he knew what he was doing, notwithſtanding his being in ſuch an hurry; none ſeemed at any loſt about his being brought in Guilty.
After his Condemnation (9 D. 2 M.) he ſeemed more penſive and penitent than ever before, in all the time of his Impriſonment. Expreſſing his deſires to ſubmit to the Will of God, praying, that God would prepare him for his Will; deſiring the prayers, and the helps of others, for ſuch Preparation; bewailing and lamenting his own miſerable Condition, as well as the diſtreſſes occaſioned by him, unto his Relations; and particularly unto his Aged Parents, and his little Children; for whom he deſired not only the Compaſſions of Heaven, but alſo the endeavours of his Friends upon Earth, for the good of their Souls.
In the laſt night that he lived, he ſeemed moſt of all concerned about his Condition, mourning as if his heart were indeed ready to break; pouring out his ſighs and groans before God; willing to hear his attendants read in good Books, and eſpecially in the Bible. Asking their Prayers for and with him, that he might be prepar'd for his approaching End.
As the time of his Execution drew near, he manifeſted no reluctancy to attend it; only he complained, that the time between the Sentence and his Death was very ſhort; ben he was told, that it was much longer than what he allowed unto thoſe whom he had murdered, and that he had lived longer by near three weeks, than he would have ſuffered himſelf to have lived, had he been left unto his own will.
He deſired that God would furniſh him with Courage to Glorify his Name, and Encounter the Terrors of Death.
As he drew near to the Place of his Execution, he ſeemed mightily amazed; but ſo recovered, as to utter ſeveral things, that were by ſome accounted conſiderable; ſome of them are preſerved.
But in all the Expreſſions that he uttered, when he came to Dy, he pretended unto no more hopes concerning the good State of his Soul, than what might be implied in his deſires of an abſolute Reſignation to the Will of God; with entire dependance on the free Grace, the Infinite Sovereign Mercy of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
But now he is gone from among the Living; it becomes all the Living to hope the beſt they can concerning him, and to leave Secret Things with the Lord, to whom they belong; and to mind the revealed Will of God about their own Duty, for the good of their own Souls, and the Souls of others, whom they are yet capable of benefiting; and to make the beſt improvement they can of all ſuch Tragical Examples, for their own advantage; and to learn by the harms of others, to keep clear from the like harms, and make ſure about their own ſeaſonable Preparation for the end of all the Living; and conſtantly remember the repeated and memorable Admonition of our Bleſſed Redeemer, in Luke 13.3, 5. Suppoſe ye, that theſe who have ſufferd ſo ſad things, are therefore greater Sinners than others. I tell you, no; but except you Repent, you ſhall all likewiſe periſh. And,
Oh! That all People might be Warn'd againſt needleſly forſaking the Holy Ordinances of God, and the faithful Embaſſadours of Chriſt, leſt they run themſelves into more terrible diſtreſſes, than they can eaſily imagine, among their Ungodly Companions, who will not be able to help them out of their Diſtreſſes, when they have left God, and God hath left them.
This poor man acknowledged in the time of his Impriſonment, that he had forſaken God, and God had forſaken him, and then every thing ſeemed againſt him, and he wiſh'd, 'Oh! that I had thought of any faithful Friend, to whom I could have been willing to have gone for advice, in the time of my Diſtreſs. But he could own, that he lived ſo, that he was afraid or aſham'd of coming into the preſence of any ſuch Friend. He bitterly bewailed his leaving the Means of Grace that he had enjoyed in his Youth.
And, Oh! that all People might be warned againſt wickedly grieving the Holy Spirit of God, by Sinning againſt the light of their own Conſciences; doing of thoſe ill things, that they know ſhould not be done; or not doing thoſe good things, that they know ſhould be done: For if the Holy Spirit goes from a Soul, then comes the Evil Spirit to that Soul; and when he comes, he will be a Spirit of Slumber, as long as he can, to keep the Soul ſecure in a ſtate, and in ſome way of Sin: But when he can keep the Soul no longer ſecure, but the Soul muſt, by ſome means or other be awakened, to ſee ſomething of its own forlorn Condition; then he will be a Spirit of Terror, and will fill the Soul, wherein he dwells, with terrible Diſtreſs, that may at length iſſue in horrible deſpair. This poor man could ſay, that he feared that he ſhould be Damned at laſt; and thought ſometimes that he would ſtrive to be as wicked as the Devil could make him; and yielded to every deſperate Concluſions about his own Soul, (as hath been reported) long before his Murders.
And, Oh! That all People might be effectualy warned againſt all beginnings of declenſions from God; and to take heed, left there be in any of them, an evil heart of Unbelief, in departing from the Living God; leſt they find the Lord caſting them off for ever, and his Soul taking no pleaſure in them. For when People begin to decline from God, and from Good, they know not where they ſhall ſtop: They know not what Miſchiefs and Miſeries they are apace running into; nor how ſoon they ſhall be overwhelmed with aſtoniſhing Deſolations.
This poor man left this awful Warning with his Neighbours, and told them ſeveral times, that he could well remember, that when he began to caſt off the Fear of God, and leave the practices of Godlineſs, indulging himſelf in Evil Courſes, he as little thought as any of them all, that he ſhould ſo ſoon come to ſuch a miſerable End. Let them then, that think they ſtand, take heed leſt the fall: And therefore Commit the keeping of their Souls to God, in Well-doing, as unto a Faithful Creator.
PEople of all Perſwaſions here, had manifeſted their Charitable Compaſſions toward him. The Epiſcopal Miniſter hath frequently Viſited him in Priſon, with his Counſels and Prayers. One of the Ancienteſt Men among the Antipaedo Baptiſts Accompanied him, and Prayed with him near his Laſt Moments. From the Quakers he had a Letter of Advice, to Evidence Unfeigned Repentance, and to Conſider, There is Mercy with the Lord, that He may be Feared.