N00429:20
Speedy repentance urged. A sermon preached at Boston, Decemb. 29. 1689. In the hearing,…
Speedy repentance urged. A sermon preached at Boston, Decemb. 29. 1689. In the hearing, and at the request of one Hugh Stone, a miserable man under a just sentence of death, for a tragical and horrible murder. : Together with some account concerning the character, carriage, and execution of that unhappy malefactor. : To which are added, certain memorable providences relating to some other murders; & some great instances of repentance which have been seen among us. / By Cotton Mather Pastor of the Gospel in Boston.
Boston: printed by Samuel Green, 1690
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.
In the Verse before out Text, we have both a Confession, and a Petition of a Distressed Man.
For the Confession, we have both the Matter of it, and the Object of it. The Matter of it, is contained in those ⟨p. 4⟩words, I have sinned, what shall I do unto thee? q. d. Tho' I am clear of many things which my Friends do accuse me of, yet my sins before God are so manifest and so multiplied, that I can do nothing for the vindication or expiation of my Miscarriages. The Object of it is intimated in those words, O Thou preserver of Men, which are by some rendered, O thou Observer of Men, q. d. God has Observed more amiss in me, than ever I found in my self.
For the Confession, we have both the Matter of it, and the Object of it. The Matter of it, is contained in those ⟨p. 4⟩words, I have sinned, what shall I do unto thee? q. d. Tho' I am clear of many things which my Friends do accuse me of, yet my sins before God are so manifest and so multiplied, that I can do nothing for the vindication or expiation of my Miscarriages. The Object of it is intimated in those words, O Thou preserver of Men, which are by some rendred, O thou Observer of Men, q. d. God has Observed more amiss in me, than ever I found in my self.
For the Petition, it is with an Expostulation. It is, Why hast thou set me as a Mark against thee; so that I am a Burden to my self? The Sorrows of men, are the Arrows of God; they that are shot full thereof are sensible of a Burden in every one of their concerns: Why hast thou? is here a Deprecation of the evil mentioned.