Pillars of salt. An history of some criminals executed in this land, for capital…

(II.)

There was a miserable man, at Weymouth; who fell into very ungodly practices: but would particularly Signalize his ungodliness, by flouting at those Fools (as he called 'em) who would ever Confess any Sins, laid unto their Charge.

THere was a miserable man, at Weymouth; who fell into very ungodly practices: but would particularly Signalize his ungodliness, by flouting at those Fools (as he call'd 'em) who would ever Confess any Sins, laid unto their Charge.

This man lived in abominable Adulteries; but God at length smote him with a Palsy. His Dead Palsy was accompanied with a Quick Conscience, which compelled him to Confess his Crimes: But, he Confessed them so Indiscreetly, ⟨p. 63⟩that by their Divulgation, they reached the Ears of the Authority: And in this Confession, there was involved and concerned, the Wretched Woman, who chiefly had been concerned with him in the Transgression.

This man lived in abominable Adulteries; but God at lenth smote him with a Palsey. His Dead Palsey was accompanied with a Quick Conscience, which compelled him to Confess his Crimes: But, he Confess'd them so Indiscreetly, ⟨p. 63⟩that by their Divulgation, they reach'd the Ears of the Authority: And in this Confession, there was involv'd and concern'd, the Wretched Woman, who chiefly had been concern'd with him in the Transgression.

By the Law of this Country, Adultery was then a Capital Transgression, as it hath been in many other Countries: and this poor Adulterer, could not escape the Punishment which the Law provided.

By the Law of this Country, Adultery was then a Capital Transgression, as it hath been in many other Countrys: and this poor Adulterer, could not escape the Punishment which the Law provided.

(III.)

ON June 6. 1662. At New-haven, there was a most Unparalleled Wretch, One Potter, by Name, about Sixty years of Age, Executed for Damnable Bestialities; although this Wretch, had been for now Twenty years, a Member of the Church in that Place, and kept up among the Holy People of God there, a Reputation, for Serious Christianity. It seems that the Unclean Devil, which had the possession of this Monster, had carried all his Lusts with so much Fury into this One Channel of Wickedness, that there was no Notice taken of his being Wicked in any other. Hence 'twas, that he was Devout in Worship, Gifted in Prayer, Forward in Edifying Discourse among the Religious, and Zealous in Reproving the Sins of the other People; Every one counted him, A Saint: And he Enjoyed such a Peace in his own mind, that in several Fits of Sickness, wherein he ⟨p. 64⟩seemed Nigh unto Death, he seemed Willing to Die; Yea, Death (he said) Smiled on him. Nevertheless, this Diabolical Creature, had Lived in most infandous Buggeries for no less than Fifty years together; and now at the Gallows, there were killed before his Eyes, a Cow, Two Heifers, Three Sheep, and Two Sows, with all of which he had Committed his Brutalities His Wife had seen him Confounding himself with a Bitch, Ten years before; and he then Excused his Filthiness, as well as he could, unto her, but Conjured her to keep it Secret: but he afterwards Hanged that Bitch himself, and then Returned unto his former Villainies, until at last, his Son, saw him hideously conversing with a So• ▪ By these means, the burning Jealousy of the Lord Jesus Christ, at Length made the Churches to know, that He had all this while seen the Covered Filthiness of this Hellish Hypocrite, and Exposed him also to the Just Judgment of Death, from the Civil Court of Judicature. Very Remarkable had been the Warnings, which this Hell-Hound, had Received from Heaven, to Repent of his Impieties. Many years before this, he had a Daughter, who Dreamt a Dream, which caused her, in her Sleep, to cry out, most Bitterly; and her Father, then with much ado obtaining of her to tell her Dream, She told him, me Dreamt, that she was among a great ⟨p. 65⟩Multitude of People, to see an Execution, and it proved her own Father that was to be hanged, at whose Turning over, she thus cried out. This happened before the Time, that any of his Cursed Practices were known unto her!

ON June 6. 1662. At New-haven, there was a most Unparallel'd Wretch, One Potter, by Name, about Sixty years of Age, Executed for Damnable Bestialities; although this Wretch, had been for now Twenty years, a Member of the Church in that Place, and kept up among the Holy People of God there, a Reputation, for Serious Christianity. It seems that the Unclean Devil, which had the possession of this Monster, had carried all his Lusts with so much Fury into this One Channel of Wickedness, that there was no Notice taken of his being Wicked in any other. Hence t'was, that he was Devout in Worship, Gifted in Prayer, Forward in Edifying Discourse among the Religious, and Zealous in Reproving the Sins of the other People; Every one counted him, A Saint: And he Enjoy'd such a Peace in his own mind, that in several Fits of Sickness, wherein he ⟨p. 64⟩seem'd Nigh unto Death, he seem'd Willing to Dy; Yea, Death (he said) Smiled on him. Nevertheless, this Diabolical Creature, had Lived in most infandous Buggeries for no less than Fifty years together; and now at the Gallows, there were killed before his Eyes, a Cow, Two Heifers, Three Sheep, and Two Sowes, with all of which he had Committed his Brutalities His Wife had seen him Confounding himself with a Bitch, Ten years before; and he then Excused his Filthiness, as well as he could, unto her, but Conjured her to keep it Secret: but he afterwards Hanged that Bitch himself, and then Returned unto his former Villanies, until at last, his Son, saw him hideously conversing with a So• ▪ By these means, the burning Jealousy of the Lord Jesus Christ, at Length made the Churches to know, that He had all this while seen the Covered Filthiness of this Hellis• Hypocrite, and Exposed him also to the Just Judgment of Death, from the Civil Court of Judicature. Very Remarkable had been the Warnings, which this Hell-Hound, had Received from Heaven, to Repent of his Impieties. Many years before this, he had a Daughter, who Dreamt a Dream, which caused her, in her Sleep, to cry out, most Bitterly; and her Father, then with much ado obtaining of her to tell her Dream, She told him, me Dream't, that she was among a great ⟨p. 65⟩Multitude of People, to see an Execution, and it prov'd her own Father that was to be hang'd, at whose Turning over, she thus cried out. This happened before the Time, that any of his Cursed Practices were known unto her!

At another Time, when there was a Malefactor adjudged in those parts to Die, for the very same Transgressions, which this Rotten Fellow was guilty of, the Governor, with some of the Magistrates, most unaccountably, without any manner of Reason, for their so doing, turned about unto this Fellow, and said, What think You? Is not this man worthy to Die? He now Confessed, That these Warnings did so awaken his Conscience, as to make him, for a Time, Leave off his Infernal Debauches; and so, he said, He thought all was Pardoned, all was well with him. Nevertheless, he Returned unto his Vomit, and his Quagmire, until the Sentence of Death, at last tell upon him; and then he acknowledged, That he had Lived in the Sin of Bestiality, ever since he was Ten years Old, but had sometimes Intermitted the Perpetration of it, for some years together. During his Imprisonment, he continued in a Sottish, and Stupid, frame of Spirit, and marvellously Secure about his Everlasting Pardon and Welfare: but the Church whereto he belonged, kept a Solemn Day of Humiliation on this Occasion, wherein Mr. Daven•o•• Preached ⟨p. 66⟩on Josh. 22 20. Did not Achan Commit a Trespass, in the Accursed Thing, and Wrath fell on all the Congregation of Israel? And in the close of the Fast, that Faithful People of God, Excommunicated this Accursed Achan, from their own Society. But as I have seen Bewitched Self Poisoners, under a Singular Energy of some Devil, obstinately Refuse all offered Relief, until the Poisons had prevailed so far, that all Relief was too late, and then with roaring Agonies they would have given Ten Worlds for it; So this Bewitched Beast, that had not been afraid of Dying, till he came to the Place of Execution, when he came There, he was Awakened into a most Unutterable and Intolerable Anguish of Soul, and made most Lamentably Desperate Out cries; Among which Out cries, he warned men, particularly, to Take heed of Neglecting Secret Prayer; which he said, had been hi• Bane. He said, he never used Secret Prayer in his Life, and that he frequently omitted Family Prayer too; Yet, he said, he had Prayed and Sinned, and Sinned and Prayed; namely, by Ejaculations, with which he contented himself, throwing Set Prayer aside. But so he Perished!

At another Time, when there was a Malefactor adjudged in those parts to Dy, for the very same Transgressions, which this Rotten Fellow was guilty of, the Governour, with some of the Magistrates, most unaccountably, without any manner of Reason, for their so doing, turn'd about unto this Fellow, and said, What think You? Is not this man worthy to Dy? He now Confessed, That these Warnings did so awaken his Conscience, as to make him, for a Time, Leave off his Infernal Debauehes; and so, he said, He thought all was Pardoned, all was well with him. Nevertheless, he Return'd unto his Vomit, and his Quagmire, until the Sentence of Death, at last tell upon him; and then he acknowledged, That he had Lived in the Sin of Beastiality, ever since he was Ten years Old, but had sometimes Intermitted the Perpetration of it, for some years together. During his Imprisonment, he continued in a Sottish, and Stupid, frame of Spirit, and marvellously Secure about his Everlasting Pardon and Welfare: but the Church whereto he belonged, kept a Solemn Day of Humiliation on this Occasion, wherein Mr. Daven•o•• Preached ⟨p. 66⟩on Josh. 22 20. Did not Achan Commit a Trespass, in the Accursed Thing, and Wrath fell on all the Congregation of Israel? And in the close of the Fast, that Faithful People of God, Excommunicated this Accursed Achan, from their own Society. But as I have seen Bewitched Self Poisoners, under a Singular Energy of some Devil, obstinately Refuse all offered Relief, until the Poisons had prevailed so far, that all Relief was too late, and then with roaring Agonies they would have given Ten Worlds for it; So this Bewitched Beast, that had not been afraid of Dying, till he came to the Place of Execution, when he came There, he was Awakened into a most Unutterable and Intolerable Anguish of Soul, and made most Lamentably Desperate Out cries; Among which Out cries, he warned men, particularly, to Take heed of Neglecting Secret Prayer; which he said, had been hi• Bane. He said, he never used Secret Prayer in his Life, and that he frequently omitted Family Prayer too; Yet, he said, he had Prayed and Sinned, and Sinned and Prayed; namely, by Ejaculations, with which he contented himself, throwing Set Prayer aside. But so he Perished!

(IV.)

AN English Ship, (in the year 1673.) Sailing from somewhere about the Month of the Straits, was Manned, with some Crue• ⟨p. 67⟩Miscreants, who quarrelling with the Master and some of the Officers, turned 'em all into the Long Boat, with a Small Quantity of Provisions, about an Hundred Leagues, to the Westward of the Spanish Coast.

AN English Ship, (in the year 1673.) Sailing from somewhere about the Month of the Streights, was Manned, with some Crue• ⟨p. 67⟩Miscreants, who quarrelling with the Master and some of the Officers, turn'd 'em all into the Long Boat, with a Small Quantity of Provisions, about an Hundred Leagues, to the Westward of the Spanish Coast.

These Fellows, in the mean while, set Sail for New England: where, by a Surprising providence of God, the Master, with his Afflicted Company, in the Long-boat, also arrived; all, Except one who dyed of the Barbarous Usage.

These Fellows, in the mean while, set Sail for New England: where, by a Surprizing providence of God, the Master, with his Afflicted Company, in the Long-boat, also arrived; all, Except one who dyed of the Barbarous Usage.

The Countenance of the Master, was now become Terrible to the Rebellious Men, who, though they had Escaped the Sea, yet Vengeance would not suffer to Live a Shore. At his Instance and Complaint, they were Apprehended; and the Ringleaders of this Murderous Piracy, had a Sentence of Death Executed on them, in Boston.

The Countenance of the Master, was now become Terrible to the Rebellious Men, who, though they had Escaped the Sea, yet Vengeance would not suffer to Live a Shore. At his Instance and Complaint, they were Apprehended; and the Ringleaders of this Murderous Pyracy, had a Sentence of Death Executed on them, in B•ston.

Under that Sentence, there was heard among them, a grievous Lamentation for This; Their Education had been under the means of Grace, and the faithful Preaching of the Gospel in England; but they had Sinned against that Education.

And one of them sadly Cried out, Oh! 'Tis my Drunkenness, 'Tis my Drunkenness, that hath brought me to this Lamentable End!

And one of them sadly Cryed out, Oh! 'Tis my Drunkenness, 'Tis my Drunkenness, that hath brought me to this Lamentable End!