N00527:111
Warnings from the dead. Or Solemn admonitions unto all people
Warnings from the dead. Or Solemn admonitions unto all people; but especially unto young persons to beware of such evils as would bring them to the dead. / By Cotton Mather. ; In two discourses, occasioned by a sentence of death, executed on some unhappy malefactors. ; Together with the last confession, made by a young woman, who dyed on June 8. 1693. One of these malefactors.
printed by Bartholomew Green for Samuel Phillips, 1693
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.
I Question whether ever any Prisoner in this World, enjoyed such means of Grace as you have done since your Imprisonment; & it may be there never was a Prisoner more Hard-Hearted, and more Unfruitful, than you ⟨p. 73⟩have been under those means for a long while together. Many Hours would not serve to Recite the Instructions and Awakenings that have been inculcated upon you, since you were first Apprehended; and you have now but a few Minutes left you, to make Sure of that Great Salvation which has in all been tendered you. But Miserable Soul, How canst thou Escape, if thou neglected that Great Salvation? However, there is One Word, wherewith I am to acquaint you after all; 'tis in Zech. 13. 1. There shall be a Fountain Opened for Sin, and for Uncleanness. Your Sin has been Uncleanness, Repeated Uncleanness, Impudent Uncleanness, Murderous Uncleanness: You must, like the Leper, Cry out, Unclean! Unclean! But behold; there is a Fountain set Open for you. Only be it known unto thee, that all thy known Sins must be Vomited out by thy Penitent Confession of them, when thou comest unto that Open Fountain. And Oh! How should this Dissolve your Adamantine Heart into the most Penitent Confession, when that although' you have shed the Blood of your own Children, to cover your Uncleanness, yet the Son of God, is willing to Wash your Soul, in his own most Invaluable Blood? Come then I beseech you, unto that, Open Fountain; Come with Importunate entreaties that the Blood ⟨p. 74⟩of the Lord Jesus Christ, may Wash away all your sins; and that you may be Sanctified as well as Justified, by this Blood of the New-Covenant. Because you have been a Bloody Wretch, therefore 'tis that now you must not Live out half your Days; The Primitive Christians, I find sometimes using these words, We count it a sort of Murder to disturb Conception; and what shall we count it then to Kill Infants already Born into the World? Why, Thou Elizabeth, (and thy Black Fellow-Sufferer there!) has been such a Bloody Murderer. But Oh! See to it, that you be not a Deceitful One; you say, That sin becomes Bitter, and that Christ becomes Precious, to your Soul; O be concerned that you be not Ruined by this thing. A Deceitful heart hath turned her aside, she D •es with a Lye in her Right Hand!