A50229:58
A sermon, occasioned
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 the murderer to all persons, especially to young men, to beware of those sins which brought him to his miserable end) / by Increase Mather ...
Boston: printed by R.P., 1687
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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 ready 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 committed, & where I have •in partly ruined 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 murdered 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 ruin. [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.