N00343:39
A sermon occasioned by the execution of a man found guilty of murder: preached…
A sermon occasioned by the execution of a man found guilty of murder: preached at Boston in New-England, March 11th 1685/6. : (Together with the confession, last expressions, and solemn warning of that murderer, to all persons; especially to young men, to beware of those sins which brought him to his miserable end.) / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church of Christ.A sermon occasioned by the execution of a man found guilty of murder: preached at Boston in New-England, March 11th 1685/6. : (Together with the confession, last expressions, and solemn warning of that murderer, to all persons; expecially to young men, to beware of those sins which brought him to his miserable end.) / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church of Christ.
Boston: printed by Richard Pierce for Joseph Brunning book-seller, 1686
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.
There is a Printed Relation concerning(b) a person of Quality that was hanged for a Crime laid to his charge; and when he came to die, 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 wished for, he should in his Passion, wish that he might be hanged if it were so, and once he wished he might be hanged if ever he played again; and therefore (said he) God is just in bringing me to such a death as that. And when anger shall break out into blows, quarrelling and fighting between Neighbours that ought 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 cared not whom 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 ⟨p. 22⟩their Scholars in heat of anger, lest they become guilty of breaking the sixth Commandment. A moral Heathen, when his Servant had committed a fault that greatly incensed him, said to him, If I were not angry with thee 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 Gods sigh•, 1 Joh. 3.15. He that hates his Brother, is a Murderer. Hatred never rests but in the destruction of the thing hated. 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 ••em (as this Malefactor owns that he has •een) 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, though to a Serv•nt or Slave, is a very sinful thing. Nay Cruelty though to a Beast argueth a murderous, bloody disposition. The Scripture saith that a good man is merciful to his Beast. They then that make themselves sport with putting dumb 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