N00355:65
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 N.E. March 11th 1685[/]6. : (Together with the confession, last expressions & 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 church of Christ.
Boston: printed by R.P. i.e, 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.
To the Reader.
Although' my Consent to the Publication of the ensuing Sermon had no small Objections to Encounter with: for, First, The short time allowed me for Preparation after I was (by the little▪ expected dying Desire of a poor man) diverted from my spending the whole of the Sabbath with a bereaved Congregation to which my help was promised; and Next, the Regard to be had unto the Administration of the Lords Supper, which now in the Absence of an Honoured Relation that kindly answered my Engagement elsewhere I was to keep some Eye unto both necessitated me to want in this Discourse that Accuracy & that full pertinency which might recommend it unto the Judicious; Nevertheless, so long as among all the Faults in it, I found not this, That it was not designed to do good, and so long as among all the Pleas (which in a curious & captious age my […] to my own repose brought) against the emitting of […], I never met with this, That ▪It was impossible any good should be done by it, I have at the urgent Importunity of others ventured to deliver it into the Hands of as many as shall think themsel•• concerned to peruse it: Praying that it may reach & touch the hearts of them, to whom […] Christ should be a Pearl of great Price, till they LOOK unto HIM and be SAVED.
ALtho' my Consent to the Publication of the ensuing Sermon had no small Objections to Encounter with: for, First, The short time allow'd me for Preparation after I was (by the little▪ expected dying Desire of a poor man) diverted from my spending the whole of the Sabbath with a bereaved Congregation to which my help was promised; and Next, the Regard to be had unto the Administration of the Lords Supper, which now in the Absence of an Honoured Relation that kindly answered my Engagement elsewhere I was to keep some Eye unto both necessitated me to want in this Discourse that Accuracy & that full pertinency which might recommend it unto the Judicious; Nevertheless, so long as among all the Faults in it, I found not this, That it was not designed to do good, and so long as among all the Pleas (which in a curious & captious age my to my own repose brought) against the emitting of , I never met with this, That It was impossible any good should be done by it, I have at the urgent Importunity of others ventur'd to deliver it into the Hands of as many as shall think themsel concerned to peruse it: Praying that it may reach & touch the hearts of them, to whom Christ should be a Pearl of great Price, till they LOOK unto HIM and be SAVED.