N00429:21
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.
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.
Well, if we now pass on to our Text, we shall have there, both a Petition, and an Argument.