N01484:104
A sorrowful spectacle. In two sermons, occasioned by a just sentence of death, on…
A sorrowful spectacle. In two sermons, occasioned by a just sentence of death, on a miserable woman, for the murder of a spurious offspring. : The one declaring, the evil of an heart hardened, under and against all means of good. : The other describing, the fearful case of such as in a suffering time, and much more such as in a dying hour, are found without the fear of God. : With some remarkable things, relating to the criminal; proper for all to be informed of. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. and F.R.S. ; [One line from Acts]
Boston: printed by T. Fleet & T. Crump for Samuel Gerrish, 1715
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.
First. O view yourselves in this Impartial Glass, and see what you are Try and see, whether you have the Fear of God in you, or no. It was enquired; Psal. XXV. 12. What Man is he that fears the Lord? Let every one of us make the Enquiry, Am I the Man that fears the Lord? Let there be no such Token of Death upon us, as may give Cause for our being so questioned thereupon, Dost not thou fear God? Examine, Whether upon the Question, you can say, Yes, I ⟨p. 57⟩prize CHRIST, I hate Sin, I walk with GOD, and Labour to please Him. Oh! be not at Rest until you come to this.
Secondly. You see, and, Oh! will you not seek, a Blessing of which you have cause to be exceedingly, unspeakably desirous. 'Tis, The Fear of God. A Man cannot infuse the Fear of God into his own Heart. It is the Grace of GOD. Oh! Let us make our Supplication to GOD, for this Grace. If any of you lack this Wisdom; this Beginning of Wisdom,—Let him Ask it of God. It was an hopeful Character of some; Neh. I. 11. Thy Servants who desire to fear thy Name. Oh! may all of you come into it; and make that Petition, O Great GOD; Let there be an Heart in me to fear thee! 'Tis a Petition to be made Importunately, to be made Continually!
II. The Second observable Thing which we have before us, i•; That when People who suffer Evil Things, continue to do Evil Things, it argues ⟨p. 58⟩that the Fear of God is wanting in them. Oh! Grievous Thing! Did the Sun ever look upon a more Grievous Thing! Ah, Forlorn Soul, wherein such a Grievous Thing shall be exemplified! When a poor Man Condemned unto various and grievous Miseries, went on in Gross Miscarriages, and the Cross itself would not make him turn unto God, this procured that Righteous Reproof unto the miserable Creature, Dost not thou fear God? It showed great Want of the Fear of God.